Analysis and optimization of a bakery production line using ARENA

Production planning in German bakeries is mainly based on the experience of the responsible production manager. As a result production planning happens more or less "chaotic", which often results in "bottle- necks", deficient dimensioning, ineffective staff allocation and operational problems. The aforementioned points cause a production environment in which factories are not able to achieve the best possible economical and ecological performance. As shown in several industry branches, it is highly advantageous to use virtual models in order to detect and improve suboptimal processes. Models behave like the real system and provide the possibility to predict the changes that may occur to the real production, if the specifications of the production change. For those reasons, virtual modelling supplies the user with a powerful tool for production planning. In this case study ARENA was used as the modelling and simulation tool to analyse a bakery production line.