Integrating MRP in production systems simulation tools

Literature review suggests concentrating on the development of new reference model for manufacturing system simulation, which may implement an operation logic much closer to real industrial contexts. A production system modelling tool should be designed with the aim of standardizing and simplifying the simulation of manufacturing processes and to widespread this approach in SMEs. With this aim, the authors got committed in designing a reference model for providing a structural framework to support shop-floor simulation and optimization. This paper presents the basic framework logic and structure of the simulation tool, showing how it is possible to represent it in Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN). On top of this, the efforts of implementing an MRP module on top of a simulation took which was originally conceived to embed look-back material handling policies area described, together with the operative solutions chosen to reach the integration.