Keywords
material handling, power and free conveyors, paint shop, discrete-process simulation

Abstract
We describe the application of simulation and statistical analyses to the process improvement of a paint shop within a heavy manufacturing plant. The explicit objectives of this study were the evaluation of throughput relative to loading time, unloading time, and shift patterns, the number of carriers required to maximize this throughput, and the number of operators in the unload zone required to maximize this throughput. Results obtained from this study enabled production engineers and their managers to assure achievement of target throughput and minimize the collective cost of work-in-process plus labor costs for operators in the unload zone.

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