Simulation of decision-making processes in a heavy vehicle inspection shop

Abstract

Simulation, a classic tool of operations research, has gained renewed prominence with Industry 4.0. This paper presents a simulation model to analyze the process of technical inspection of heavy vehicles in a workshop in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Despite the global mandatory nature of these inspections, there are few studies that apply simulation to this context. The proposal allows studying the system without intervening in the real operation, which would be costly. The validated model is used to evaluate improvements in service quality and productivity, considering real scenarios. In addition, it simulates the incorporation of a second inspection line that shares operations with the existing one, analyzing the necessary adjustments in the capacity of the common resources. Thus, it offers a useful tool for decision making in a key process with global scope.