ABSTRACT
This chapter utilises the results of several discrete event simulations to illustrate the performance of more complex queuing systems. The term Lean flow was originally used to describe the movements of parts within the Toyota Production System. Unlike non-Lean car companies, Toyota would move parts swiftly from one value-added activity to the next with minimal “just sitting there” time in between. A simple queue is defined by a stream of arriving customers or tasks that are handled by a server. If the server is busy serving a customer when another customer arrives, then the arriving customer must wait for service. Discrete event simulation is a computer-based approach for analyzing the dynamics of flow. Models that approximate real-world systems are programmed in specialized computer software and can be analyzed. Service time variation can also be caused by issues related to process, layout, supplies, or equipment reliability and supporting services. Targeting operational improvement using the theory of constraints requires a stepwise approach.
