A Simulation of the Defense Logistics Agency's Integrated Materials Complex.

This thesis studies the effects the number of AGVs Automated Guided Vehicles, and number of pickup and delivery stands, and the storage and retrieval machines have on the performance of DLAs Integrated Material Complex IMC. Basic objectives included 1 Design a model that would simulate the storage and retrieval machines to evaluate their performance, and determine if the number of pickupdelivery stands in the IMC is sufficient, 2 Evaluate the results of the simulation with regards to the performance goal of the IMC. A computer model, using the SLAM simulation language, simulated 4 different vehicle fleet sizes and 2 automated storage and retrieval machine picking modes. The performance measure of the IMC is to take 15,500 items from the highrise rack and bin and storage area, transport them by AGV to the consolidation area, and process for shipping, all in an 8 hour shift. Results showed that the performance goal was always met regardless of the AGV fleet size 20 - 35 vehicles or pick method used. Data analysis confirmed that the AGV fleet size and pick methods had no apparent effect on achieving the performance goal. However, if the performance goal was increased, a smaller fleet operating near full efficiency may not be able to move all the items from storage for the consolidation area.