Decision-making support for simulation solutions in small and medium sized enterprises

Over the recent years, Industry 4.0 principles, including factory simulation has increased in popularity. Where larger companies have an implementation strategy to implement this technology, small and medium-sized enterprises often do not. The key contribution of this paper is a conceptual decision-making structure that includes a developed decision-supporting tool targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises to help overcome this challenge. A performed literature review focused on manufacturing simulation frameworks, criteria for simulation solution selection, software evaluation methodologies and simulation solutions, creates the foundation for the key contribution. A company case study based on a German small and medium-sized enterprise verifies and validates the findings. It shows the value of the decision-making tool. In addition to a suggestion as the output, it triggers the process of learning and thinking, which shows more value to practitioners.