Hierarchical, modular simulation modeling in Icon-based simulation program generators for manufacturing

Icon-based simulation program generators for manufacturing allow the modeler to build simulation programs by placing pictures (icons) of machines and material handling equipment on the display and indicating the material flows between the entities that the icons represent. An icon-based simulation program generator has been written that allows groups of icons and the interconnections between them to be archived and copied as units called 'subsystems'. This paper describes how to build software that supports creation and manipulation of subsystems. Hierarchical, modular simulation modeling can be done with a simulation program generator with subsystem management features. This makes possible a high degree of reuse of parts of simulation programs.