SimQueue determines buffer sizes in seconds

With SimQueue, SimPlan presents a new app in the Apple App Store that can be used on mobile devices to determine the optimal buffer sizes between stations in a chained production line within seconds.

The production line can be easily modeled graphically. After entering the time and availability parameters for the processing stations and the target throughput for the line, the app suggests the required sizes of the buffers between the stations. The user can also define upper and lower limits for the buffers to account for any restrictions, such as lack of space.

At the push of a button, the app calculates the throughput and efficiency for the given parameters and buffer sizes. Of course, the buffer sizes can be adjusted to analyze the impact on both parameters.

This app, which is based on operations research algorithms, maps linear concatenations in the current version. SimPlan developers are already working on expanding the functionality to also create and calculate diverging and converging structures. In addition, a coupling with a simulator is being developed, which can be used to evaluate the result of the calculation in a dynamic simulation model. In a short time, the simulation provides results from simulation runs in which a variety of failure scenarios can be run through.

The app can be downloaded now as a free version from the Apple App Store. While the free version is limited in the number of projects, alternatives and machines, the Expert version offers unlimited use. The Premium subscription unlocks additional helpful features such as exporting and importing projects or performing and storing measurement series with integrated stopwatch functionality.

Status: 05.04.2022

Available at: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/simqueue/id1472567543 currently for IPads only