Analysis of the influence of the production sequence in an automobile assembly line, modeled as a network of closed-loops

Simulation is a technique which allows for the transfer of reality into the computer, through the creation of a model that reliably mirrors the behavior of a process (already existent or in its project phase). The work presented in this paper consists of the development of a decision-making support system, based on a real problem, with the purpose of optimizing the operation of an automobile assembly line with a four closed-loop network configuration. This layout system reflects one of the most common configurations of automobile assembly and preassembly lines formed by conveyors. A simulation model in an Arena environment was developed, which allowed for an analysis of the important aspects not yet studied in specialized literature, namely the assessment of the impact of the production sequence on the automobile assembly line. Various sequence rules were analyzed and the performance of each of the corresponding simulation models was registered. An experiment technique design was used in order to obtain t...