Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Healthcare industry in United States of America is facing a big paradox. Although US is a leader in the industry of medical devices, medical practices and medical researches, however there isnt enough satisfaction and quality in performance of US healthcare operations. Despite the big investments and budgets associated with US healthcare, there are big threats to US healthcare operational side, that reduces the quality of care. In this research study, a step by step Systems Engineering approach is applied to improve healthcare delivery process in an Emergency Department of a hospital located in Indianapolis, Indiana. In this study, different type of systems engineering tools and techniques are used to improve the quality of care and patients satisfaction in ED of Eskenazi hospital. Having a simulation model will help to have a better understanding of the ED process and learn more about the bottlenecks of the process. Simulation model is verified and validated using different techniques like applying extreme and moderate conditions and comparing model results with historical data. 4 different what if scenarios are proposed and tested to find out about possible LOS improvements. Additionally, those scenarios are tested in both regular and an increased patient arrival rate. The optimal selected what-if scenario can reduce the LOS by 37 minutes compared to current ED setting. Additionally, by increasing the patient arrival rate patients may stay in the ED up to 6 hours. However, with the proposed ED setting, patients will only spend an additional 106 minutes compared to the regular patient arrival rate.

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Using simulation techniques, performance of any proposed system can be tested for different scenarios with a generated model. However, it is difficult to rapidly create simulation models that will accurately represent the complexity of the system. In recent years, Object-Oriented Discrete-Event Simulation has emerged as the potential technology to implement rapid simulation schemes. A number of software based on programming languages like C++ and Java are available for carrying out Object Oriented Discrete-Event Simulation. These software packages establish a general framework for simulation in computer programs, but need to be further customized for desired end-use applications. In this thesis, a generic simulation library is created for the distributed Synchronous Parallel Environment for Emulation and Discrete-Event Simulation (SPEEDES). This library offers classes to model the functionality of servers, processes, resources, transporters, and decisions. The library is expected to produce efficient simulation models in less time and with a lesser amount of coding. The class hierarchy is modeled using the Unified Modeling Language (UML). To test the library, the existing SPEEDES Space Shuttle Model is enhanced and recreated. This enhanced model is successfully validated against the original Arena model.

Yes / Market competition is fierce and has been intensified due to globalization, therefore companies have experienced increase pressure to improve cycle and delivery times and achieve a high level of customization. Lean principles have been designed and implemented to respond to market changes. However, these principles are commonly aimed to aid low-mix high-volume (LMHV) manufacturers. This paper aims to develop a systematic approach to implement a lean framework in a high-mix low-volume (HMLV) manufacturing environment. An HMLV manufacturing environment, currently produces a variety of products which differs in terms of shape and size and different sequence of operation and as a much smaller batch size. Additionally, analysis of the manufacturing assembly shows there is a substantial variation in cycle and changeover time from product to product. In this approach, an action based study has been completed. This study uses data collection methods to be applied in order to calculate timings to be used in a Discrete Event Simulation (DES). The simulation uses lean tools to study material movement and facility layout to minimize bottlenecks and eliminate waste from the process. An introduction of lean supermarket is considered within the simulation whereby an operator withdraws products in an specific amount needed by a downstream process before introducing it across the assembly floor and an action plan is created. As a result, a lean manufacturing simulation study has been implemented to evaluate the effects of a supermarket concept within the current manufacturing environment. Initial results show a variation within the cycle and setup times for each of the different products due to the nature of the process. The paper, is limited to applying the approach to a singular production line and a singular manufacturing plant. The practical implications to implement this approach into a manufacturing environment is that there should be a need from the company. This approach should be driven by senior members within the organization as the resistance to change would increase the risk of failure. Another implication of the proposed approach is to ensure the accuracy of the data collected and to introduce a series of briefs within each stage of the approach. This is important as all stakeholders would need to be kept up-to-date with the project. However, the approach is applicable to any organization and can be applied to any sector. This paper, develops a systematic approach to implement a lean framework in a high-mix low-volume (HMLV) manufacturing environment. The approach is validated in an automotive manufacturing organization competing in global markets.

Project management has become a key component for improving organizational performance and is applied in many business areas and industries. Resource-constrained stochastic project networks are quite common. Managing such projects to maximize resource utilization and reduce project duration simultaneously is difficult. Resource loading, assignment rules, and priorities significantly affect project performance, especially in shared-resource, multi-project environments. This thesis provides an approach for using discrete-event simulation to analyze the behavior and performance of project networks that use resource pools. A method to translate project networks into simulation models is developed. The translator is used to convert and evaluate a benchmark test set of resource constrained stochastic project networks. The effect of factors like project network complexity, resource availability and allocation strategies on project performance is analyzed using a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement of the aforementioned factors. The conversion process and results from the analysis are discussed.

Even though simulation technology provides great benefits to industry, it is largely underutilized. One of the biggest barriers to utilizing simulation is the lack of interoperability between simulation models. This is especially true when simulation models that need to interact with each other span an enterprise or supply chain. These models are likely to be distributed and developed in disparate simulation application software. In order to analyze the dynamic behavior of the systems they represent, the models must interoperate. However, currently this interoperability is nearly impossible. The interaction of models also refers to the understanding of them among stakeholders in the different stages of models¡Š lifecycles. The lack of interoperability also makes it difficult to share the knowledge within disparate models. This research first investigates this problem by identifying, defining, and analyzing the types of simulation model interactions. It then identifies and defines possible approaches to allow models to interact. Finally, a framework that adopts the strength of Structured Modeling (SM) and the Object-Oriented (OO) concept is proposed for representing discrete event simulation models. The framework captures the most common simulation elements and will serve as an intermediate language between disparate simulation models. Because of the structured nature of the framework, the resulting model representation is concise and easily understandable. Tools are developed to implement the framework. A Common User Interface (CUI) with software specified controllers is developed for using the proposed framework with various commercial simulation software packages. The CUI is also used to edit simulation models in a neutral environment. A graphical modeling tool is also developed to facilitate conceptual modeling. The resulting graphic can be translated into the common model representation automatically. This not only increases the understanding of models for all stakeholders, but also shifts model interactions to the ¡§formulating¡š stage, which can prevent problems later in the model¡Šs lifecycle. Illustration of the proposed framework and the tools will be given, as well as future work needs.

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