Using FlexSim to Construct the Simulation Model for Paper Bag Making Machine

This article discusses the order scheduling in paper bag making machine. The paper bag making machine is a bottleneck of the paper bag making process. Long setup times and many setup operations are needed for the paper bag making machine. These setup operations include: (1) change the ink, (2) change the layout of printed page, (3) change the number of paper-rolls, (4) anti-slip setting, (5) glue setting, (6) punching setting, (7) adjust the width, (8) adjust the thickness, (9) pocket type setting, and (10) pilot run. This study employs the simulation software FlexSim to simulate the production of the paper bag making machine. Two dispatching rules, including least bags first and earliest due date, are used to assign the order to the paper bag making machine. The performance measure is mean tardiness of all orders. Simulation results reveal that the earliest due date is better than least bags first.