Integrating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems to Symbiotic Simulation

Symbiotic simulation is inspired by symbiosis in biology and is defined as a close association between a simulation system and a physical system, which is usually beneficial to at least one of them. Many applications have been proposed in recent years to implement symbiotic simulation to physical systems. However, little research has been carried out on implementing computer-based information systems to symbiotic simulation. In this research, symbiotic simulation is developed with the integration of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. On the one hand, simulation models benefit from the relevant manufacturing data which are provided by ERP systems. On the other hand, ERP systems and physical systems benefit from the feedback offered by simulation models. A tube manufacturing shop floor has been selected as a case to demonstrate how the symbiotic simulation can be practically implemented. In this case example, a simulation model has been built using Anylogic 6 to mutually interact with a SAP R/3 system. Experimentation has also been carried out to evaluate the extent to which the symbiotic simulation can effectively address uncertainties in manufacturing environments and ultimately control the ERP system and the tube manufacturing shop floor.