Plant Simulation is a software environment for simulation of systems and processes. The solution is designed to optimize material flow, resource loading, logistics and management method for all levels of planning from the whole production and production network to individual lines and sections.
| Plant simulation | |
|---|---|
| Type of | simulation modeling |
| Developer | Siemens PLM Software |
| operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| License | proprietary |
| Site | plm.automation.siemens.com/… |
Plant Simulation is part of the Tecnomatix product line of Siemens PLM Software [1] .
Content
Product History
In 1986, the German research organization Fraunhofer Society for Factory Operation and Automation developed an object-oriented, hierarchical simulation program for the Apple Macintosh called SIMPLE Mac for Apple Macintosh. In 1990 , the company was founded AIS (Ger . Angewande Informations Systeme), which created the product SIMPLE ++ ( German. Simulation in Produktion Logistics and Engineering - simulation in production logistics and design). In 1991 , AIS was named AESOP (Angewande EDV-Systeme zur optimierten Planung).
On October 21, 1997, AESOP was acquired by Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd. In 2000, the SIMPLE ++ product was renamed to eM-Plant as part of a corporate rebranding .
In early 2005, TECNOMATIX was taken over by UGS Corp. and received the status of a separate unit [2] . A year later, the eM-Plant product was renamed and became known as the Tecnomatix Plant Simulation Tool.
In January 2007, UGS was acquired by Siemens AG. From now on, deliveries and support for Tecnomatix solutions are carried out by Siemens PLM Software [3] .
Short Description
View of the 2D model window | View of the 3D model window |
Plant Simulation is a visual object-oriented environment for building simulation models of a wide class of systems. Models are built from the existing library of standard objects, in which there are several main sections:
- Material Flow - objects intended for processing moving objects. For example: Source (source of parts), SingleProc (single operation), Buffer (drive), Line (conveyor).
- Movable Units - moving objects: Entity (detail), Container (tare), Transporter (self-propelled vehicles)
- Information Flow - objects for model information support (variables, tables, event generators, data exchange interfaces, methods for event handling)
- User Interface - objects for data presentation (graphs, charts)
- Fluids - objects for modeling pipelines and fluid flows
In addition to standard objects, additional libraries are available that implement special objects (cranes, automated warehouses) or tools (neural networks, variant generator).
All objects have a set of parameters (for example, operation time) and behavior. You can build more complex structures by combining basic objects and adding subroutines (methods) for handling events in the SimTalk language. In this way, you can create custom object libraries and hierarchical models.
In modeling, moving objects (Movable Units) move along the created structure, generating events at the instants of time determined by the parameters of the objects. In particular, at the entrance to the object and exit from it.
According to the simulation results, statistics are automatically collected - performance over a period of time, the time of using the equipment, the degree of storage capacity, and any other indicators.
In addition to the usual, two-dimensional, representation with animation based on icons, the model can have a three-dimensional representation. To create a three-dimensional representation, 3D models are used in JT format.
Product Features
- Built - in object-oriented programming language SimTalk
- Hierarchical structure of the model with unlimited nesting depth
- Ability to use in the simulation of statistical parameters of failures
- A set of analytical tools: bottleneck analyzer, Gantt chart, Sankey chart, etc.
- Built-in universal optimization tools
- Automatic generation and execution of sets of experiments
- Genetic Algorithm Optimization
- The possibility of distribution of computing on multiple computers
- Interfaces for data exchange ( ODBC , SQL , Excel , XML , ActiveX , OPC , etc.)
Innovations in Versions
Starting from version 9, full support has been implemented for the 64-bit architecture for processing large data arrays. The transition to the standard graphics core DirectModel, which made it possible to exchange models with the JT format with other applications, was made. The Pack and Go tool allows you to record a simulation model in the form of an executable EXE file that does not require a Plant Simulation license for its work. The Library Manager tool, which allows you to keep track of the versions of the application libraries used in the model, and remove and add new libraries to the model.
Version 10 introduces a data exchange interface with the Teamcenter PLM system, which allows you to automate the acquisition of source data for simulation. Appeared interface SQLite . Added specialized objects for modeling conveyor systems.
In version 11, the core of the product was transferred to Unicode, which removed restrictions on the use of national languages, including the names of objects and operators in the code. In the objects of the material flow appeared the standard functionality of energy consumption accounting.
Starting from version 12, the standard library contains objects for modeling fluid flow. The product has received a new user interface with a ribbon menu. As a result of cooperation with Bentley Systems, the 3D visualizer began to support the import of geometry in the form of a cloud of points [4] .
Version 13 supports the built-in SimTalk 2.0 programming language with simplified syntax and new features. Provided compatibility with previous versions, since the model can use SimTalk 2.0 and 1.0 at the same time.
Use
Plant Simulation is used in many industries. For example, in the automotive industry [5] , mechanical engineering, aerospace industry [6] , manufacturing, electronics, consumer goods [7] , logistics, transport [8] , shipbuilding [9] [10] [11 ] and other industries.
Plant Simulation is also used for research purposes by educational institutions and scientific organizations [12] .
The site is available free student version of the program.
Sources
- ↑ Plant Simulation on Siemens PLM Software .
- ↑ “Tecnomatix Agrees to Be Acquired by UGS for $ 228 Million or $ 17 Per Share; PLM / MPM Solution to Customers “Industry Leaders” // Business Wire, Inc ..
- ↑ UGS PLM Software has announced its entry into Siemens // Vedomosti. - May 22, 2007.
- ↑ Siemens and Bentley Systems will invest 50 million euros in joint development // isicad.ru.
- ↑ Heinrich, Stephan. "Optimizing the Color Sorting Store" // Promasim. - 2008.
- ↑ Hanreich, Klaus. "It was designed to stabilize the process . " // Aerospace Engineering. - May 2005. Archived on June 5, 2011.
- ↑ Hasenschwanz, Werner. "PRACTICAL AND USEFUL RESULTS; Process simulation in a brewery" // BBII .. - 2009. - № 1 .
- Циф "Digital Airport" Planning and optimization of the airport complex // AIRPORT PARTNER.
- ↑ Plant Simulation for shipyards // geoplm.com.
- ↑ Park, Eun-Jung. "A SIMULATION MODEL WITH A LOW LEVEL OF DETAIL FOR CONTAINER TERMINALS AND ITS APPLICATIONS": Proceedings of the 2007 Winter Simulation Conference. . - December 2007. - p . 2004-2011 .
- ↑ Caprace, Jean-David. "Minimization of Production Cost of Assessment Method and Simulation". The AsiaLink-EAMARNET International Conference on Ship Design, Production & Operation. // Journal of Harbin Engineering University. - December 2006. - T. 27 .
- ↑ Simulation modeling in Tecnomatix Plant Simulation 11 in the educational process // CAD / CAM / CAE Observer. - 2015. - № 2 (94) .
Literature
- Steffen Bangsow. Manufacturing Simulation with Plant Simulation and SimTalk Usage and Programming with Examples and Solutions. - Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2009. - ISBN 978-3-642-05073-2 .
- Steffen Bangsow. Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. Modeling and Programming by Means of Examples .. - Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2015. - ISBN 978-3-319-19502-5 .
- Michael Eley. Simulation in der Logistik: Einführung in die Erstellung ereignisdiskreter Modelle unter Verwendung des Werkzeuges "Plant Simulation". - Berlin: Springer Gabler, 2012. - ISBN 978-3-642-27372-8 , 978-3-642-27373-5.