Solving Engine Maintenance Capacity Problems with Simulation

For many companies the scheduling of job shops proves very difficult. Competing priorities (due dates, potential profit) from multiple customers confronts the plant manager with many tough questions; which product to work next, can this order wait, and what products to produce together to maximize the machine utilization and minimize setups. These same situations are all too common for the manager of an engine maintenance facility. Most airlines fly multiple aircraft types with a unique engine type for each aircraft. Engine overhauls are usually within a single facility at the airline’s main hub. With so many different parts and repair routings, a job shop environment is common for an engine maintenance facility. This paper will provide an overview of an engine maintenance system, clearly define the capacity planning problem, and describe the goal and scope of the simulation model and its applicability. The model development, experiments, results, and future direction will also be d...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1997
• Where: WSC
• Authors: Robert Gatland, Eric Yang, Kenneth Buxton
• Keywords: Engine Maintenance Facility, Job Shop, Modeling And Simulation, Unique Engine Type, WSC 1997