Modeling the factory of the future

We describe how the Research Queueing Package Modeling Environment (RESQME) provides a hierarchical, graphical environment to simulate computer integrated manufacturing. RESQME provides the modeler with primitives that support the construction of a diverse set of tool types, line control mechanisms and processing rules. The modeler can combine these primitives into higher-level objects that directly represent the tools and decision mechanisms of the manufacturing line. RESQME then simulates the flow of information and material among these higher-level objects and the use of this information for processing and routing decisions. As an example, we describe modeling a continuous flow manufacturing line where processing decisions are based on real-time information of expected product arrivals from upstream processes an buffer availability at downstream processes.