Participative simulation in the PSIM project

This chapter describes the background and objectives ofthe IST project Participative Simulation environment for Integral Manufacturing enterprise renewal (PSIM). In the short run, PSIM aims to address the key issues that have to be resolved before a manufacturing renewal can be implemented. PSIM is focused on intelligent manufacturing in order to unleash human creativity supported by ICT technology. The long-term goal of PSIM is to show simulated assembly lines in a software environment. PSIM can be used to enable a participative improvement process involving specialized staff, management and production personnel. This chapter gives an oveliew of some basic ideas that provided both the theoretical and conceptual basis for the PSIM project.