nolte-Möbel relies on simulation to analyse its manufacturing processes
Software: Plant Simulation
nolte-Möbel GmbH & Co. KG manufactures high-quality wardrobe and bedroom ranges at its Germersheim site. The increasing number of product variants and the growing complexity of production processes made it necessary to adapt manufacturing processes and, in some cases, redefine process structures, with corresponding implications at the planning and process levels.
Initial situation: Increasing variety of variants in prefabrication
To analyse and evaluate the planning and process variants in the prefabrication area, nolte-Möbel set up a simulation project. SimPlan was responsible for training staff, implementing the simulation software and supporting the project throughout its implementation.
Objective: To create a base model for future planning changes
The task comprised:
- Mapping of current processes
- Creation of a base model as a starting point for investigating planning changes
- Introducing staff to simulation technology and providing ongoing training
Solution: Layout-accurate model linked to production data
The simulation was implemented using Plant Simulation and offered the following functionalities:
- Link to current production data via an Excel interface
- Pre-populating the model with the current production layout
- Layout-accurate representation of the production environment
- Visualisation of changeover processes
Results: An experimental environment for ongoing planning variants
The model serves as an experimental environment for nolte-Möbel to carry out preliminary simulations of planned production orders. In addition, it validated planning variants and provided transparency regarding the processes in pre-production.
Simulation becomes an integral part of ongoing planning
The case study demonstrates how a simulation model is not merely created as a one-off for a project, but – through training of the company’s own staff – remains a permanent experimental environment for future planning decisions within the organisation.
