Design and Simulation of a New Biomedical Production Process

This paper presents the design and analysis of a lean production system for a new biomedical technology product that has the potential to accelerate the screening process for cancer treatments. To navigate the unique constraints of the product’s manufacturing process, including the use of time-sensitive biomaterial and several steps with long processing times, simulation is utilized to analyze and compare multiple system designs and production scenarios. The final design includes a robust production schedule, a modular facility layout, and lean production control tools for daily facility operation. All of the proposed designs are compliant with regulations governing the correct handling of human tissue and other biomaterials, and guidelines from the regulatory bodies were explicitly incorporated in key decisions throughout the design and simulation modeling process.