Computer experiment: A case study for modelling and simulation of manufacturing systems

Abstract

Deterministic computer simulation of physical experiments is now a common technique in science and engineering. Often, physical experiments are too time consuming, expensive or impossible to conduct. Complex computer models or codes, rather than physical experiments, lead to the study of computer experiments, which are used to investigate many scientific phenomena. A computer experiment consists of a number of runs of the computer code with different input choices. Design and Analysis of Computer Experiments is a rapidly growing technique in statistical experimental design. This paper aims to discuss some practical issues when designing a computer simulation and/or experiments for manufacturing systems. A case study approach is reviewed and presented.

Keywords:

• Computer experiments
• computer simulation
• computer code
• experimental design
• modelling
• manufacturing systems

Additional information

Notes on contributors

T R Sahama

Tony Sahama is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Information Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology. He received his PhD degree in Computer Science from Victoria University, Melbourne, in 1999. His interests include computer experiments, modelling and simulation, medical informatics, and information technology applications in health care.

N T Diamond

Neil Diamond is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Consulting at the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University, Melbourne. He received his PhD degree in Statistics from the University of Melbourne in 1994. His interests include experimental design, applied statistics, time series analysis and forecasting, quality improvement, and statistical computing.