AbstractÐA generalized framework for the de®nition of kanban-controlled manufacturing systems and
a simulation generator based on this framework are introduced in this paper. Kanbans are used
between and within workstations to trigger product ¯ow or production. The simulation generator is
capable of modeling complex manufacturing systems with multiple parts, multiple work centers and
multiple processes at each work center. Multiple process de®nition capability enables users to de®ne
convergent and divergent points in a manufacturing system. Several decision rules are de®ned and in-
corporated into the generator. The simulation generator can be used as a completely interactive tool
that is data-driven and requires no programming skills. # 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.
1. INTRODUCTION