The Development of A Reusable Simulation Model for the Modular Housing Industry Using ProModel and Visual Basic

Developing a simulation model can be a time consuming process. Often multiple simulation models are built to simulate similar systems with small differences. The Housing Constructability Lab at the University of Central Florida has developed numerous models of modular housing manufacturing operations, both existing and planned. While the physical configurations differed considerably, the underlying manufacturing processes and relationships were remarkably similar. As a result, the research team recognized the opportunity for a generic modular manufacturing simulation system. This paper describes the common structural elements that are likely to be found in a modular manufacturing simulation model and outlines an approach for developing a generic simulation system based on this structure.