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7 Summary and Outlook
The more details a simulation model contains, the more realistic is the reproduction of the actual production scenario. The efforts to create the model and
especially to collect and validate the data need to be adapted to the model
purpose and the followed objectives. It is not target-oriented, if the efforts to
include energy consumption data of the entire production periphery require
high investments in measuring equipment when the share of the production
periphery is very low compared to the share of production machines. At the
end of the day, the decision is the sole responsibility of the model maker. Does
the production hall contain an energy-intensive cooling system to temper the
production, it makes sense to include it in the simulation model as the energy
share of this equipment is high compared to a vent that might be placed at a
worker’s desk.
Generally, all main energy consumers should be considered in the model creation process to obtain a realistic picture of the production and to be able to use
the simulation model for energy efficiency optimizations. Nevertheless, optimization potentials on machine or production line level are a first step towards
an energy efficient production.
7.3
Outlook and Future Work
An essential requirement of the method for simulation-based optimization of
energy efficiency in production was the realistic and exact representation of
energy consumption in production. Particularly during the practical validation
of the methodology, it has been proved that the energy consumption of production machines and production lines can be depicted very precisely by means
of hybrid simulation and that it is possible to use the hybrid simulation models
for optimization experiments to reduce the total energy consumption as well as
peak consumptions in production. So far, the methodology has only been tested
with single production lines. Following the requirement of an integrated view of
production systems, the methodology has to be tested considering the whole production area of a company. Due to the simple possibility to extend the existing
model and to easily integrate the next production lines into the same simulation
model. With increasing model size the performance of the simulator might be
influenced negatively.
Subsequent to the extension of the simulation model on the production side,
the consideration of transport and logistic processes that have been excluded in
the production flow component could be a future enhancement. In a next step, the
7 Summary and Outlook
The more details a simulation model contains, the more realistic is the reproduction of the actual production scenario. The efforts to create the model and
especially to collect and validate the data need to be adapted to the model
purpose and the followed objectives. It is not target-oriented, if the efforts to
include energy consumption data of the entire production periphery require
high investments in measuring equipment when the share of the production
periphery is very low compared to the share of production machines. At the
end of the day, the decision is the sole responsibility of the model maker. Does
the production hall contain an energy-intensive cooling system to temper the
production, it makes sense to include it in the simulation model as the energy
share of this equipment is high compared to a vent that might be placed at a
worker’s desk.
Generally, all main energy consumers should be considered in the model creation process to obtain a realistic picture of the production and to be able to use
the simulation model for energy efficiency optimizations. Nevertheless, optimization potentials on machine or production line level are a first step towards
an energy efficient production.
7.3
Outlook and Future Work
An essential requirement of the method for simulation-based optimization of
energy efficiency in production was the realistic and exact representation of
energy consumption in production. Particularly during the practical validation
of the methodology, it has been proved that the energy consumption of production machines and production lines can be depicted very precisely by means
of hybrid simulation and that it is possible to use the hybrid simulation models
for optimization experiments to reduce the total energy consumption as well as
peak consumptions in production. So far, the methodology has only been tested
with single production lines. Following the requirement of an integrated view of
production systems, the methodology has to be tested considering the whole production area of a company. Due to the simple possibility to extend the existing
model and to easily integrate the next production lines into the same simulation
model. With increasing model size the performance of the simulator might be
influenced negatively.
Subsequent to the extension of the simulation model on the production side,
the consideration of transport and logistic processes that have been excluded in
the production flow component could be a future enhancement. In a next step, the