Simulation-based decision support tool for in-house logistics: the basis for a digital twin

In-house logistics activities are an essential part of any organisation as they improve operations productivity and efficiency. In this context, agile decision-making raises the need for planning the overall shop-floor operations and effectively control them. This work tackles this need and proposes a simulation-based decision support tool for in-house logistics that analyses the activities that can occur in both a distribution facility and a production facility towards logistics 4.0. This is done by developing two simulation models using Simio – simulation modelling framework based on intelligent objects. The resulted models are verified and validated based on two real-world operations. As a conclusion, the developed models are representative of the reality and can be applied in different in-house logistics settings, functioning as digital-twinning tools to operations improvement without real sets disruption.