Högskolan i Skövde

In today's competitive manufacturing industry, efficiency and improvements in production flow are crucial for companies' success. Simulation has been recognized as a powerful tool for analyzing and enhancing production processes before changes are implemented in reality. This study focuses on creating and analyzing a prototype simulation model to identify improvement opportunities in a painting process at a company that plays a prominent role in the construction industry through its design, manufacturing, and sale of industry-related products, where safety and quality are of utmost importance. The purpose of the study is to develop a simulation model of the production flow through the painting process to identify and analyze potential improvement opportunities. By using the simulation model, different scenarios will be explored to generate improvement suggestions that can increase the efficiency and productivity of the painting process. 

For this work, the research method Design Science Research (DSR) has been chosen, which provides researchers with a structured framework to streamline research work. The use of DSR has had a significant impact on the design of the research process and the project plan. By applying the DSR method step by step, the project has followed an overall framework to implement Banks' (2014) simulation technique and monitor its progress. Data collection was carried out through document studies, interviews, observations, and time studies to create a foundation for developing the simulation model. Through a structured methodology and the use of simulation tools, a prototype simulation model reflecting the actual production flow through the painting process was constructed. The prototype simulation model was used to identify bottlenecks and effective processes within the painting process. Through experiments and analysis, potential improvement suggestions were formulated to increase the productivity and efficiency of the painting process. The study demonstrates the potential of using simulation models to improve production processes in the manufacturing industry. By identifying and addressing bottlenecks, efficiency and productivity can be increased, leading to increased competitiveness and sustainability for the company. Continued work and development of the simulation model can further improve production processes and achieve long-term improvements.