Computer Simulation of Production Processes

Nowadays, manufacturing companies are forced to adapt to new conditions by flexibly responding to different customers' and their clients' demands. Simulation can be applied to various existing systems, validations, and ana-lyzes, machine and equipment utilization, personnel availability, capacity re-quirements for detection of bottlenecks, design of manufacturing systems, analysis of existing systems, as well as production management concept veri-fication. Today's simulation programs can simulate the entire production pro-cess in a matter of minutes, uncover its deficiencies, or evaluate the produc-tion-associated costs. Simulation is a reliable tool for gathering progress and production process results that provide a wealth of data to help managers make the right decisions quickly and easily. Computer simulation is characterized by the fact that in a few hours, it can run experiments that take several days or months on real systems. The simula-tion answers the questions like "What happens when?", "Where are the main risks?", "Where does the system have its bottlenecks?" This process is associated with the effects of predicting the behavior of the system under assessment, supporting decision-making at different levels, better understanding of the system's function and its gradual improvement, saving money and, ideally, eliminating the potential risks in the human-machine environment. Although a computer-based expertise approach cannot replace a human ele-ment in the management process, or a complex system management, its appli-cation, naturally subject to managing the initial cost of acquiring a simulation system, its installation and successful application is associated with a number of positive benefits, ranging from financial cost savings for the operators of the systems under assessment, to environmental aspects and aspects of tech-nical and humane workplace safety.