Simulation in production system life cycle

People managing production process need a new kind of decision support in the business environment which is being changed rapidly. They need new tools for dynamic modelling of enterprise processes to search for answers to the following basic questions: What is to be changed? To be changed into what? How to change it? This paper presents some new trends in the area of simulation of manufacturing systems and gives some recommendations, derived from experience, for effective simulation application in the whole production system life cycle. The paper summarises how discrete-event simulation can be used in the design, operation and continuous improvement of complex manufacturing and logistical systems. A combination of simulation with systems engineering methodology and the horizontal and vertical extension of simulation models in an enterprise are described. Last part of the paper briefly presents the main results of above-mentioned approach in logistics, flexible manufacturing, electrical engineering industry, furniture assembly and tyre manufacturing.