Modeling the Wooden Pallet Manufacturing Process Using System Dynamics: A Case Study of the Voluntad de Dios Workshop in Buena Fe Canton
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v5i3.1092Keywords:
system dynamics; simulation; wooden pallets; production process; bottleneck.Abstract
This study applied system dynamics to the wooden pallet manufacturing process at the Voluntad de Dios Workshop, located in Buena Fe Canton, Ecuador. The objective was to develop a simulation model to identify production constraints, evaluate improvement scenarios, and support decision-making. A mixed-methods approach, a non-experimental design, direct observation, and a time study based on 100 observations per workstation were employed. The model was developed using Vensim PLE 10.4, following Sterman’s methodology. The results identified assembly as the main bottleneck, with a standard time of 116.91 seconds, representing 68% of the total cycle time. An operational efficiency of 72.80% and 296.31 seconds of accumulated idle time per cycle at the cutting workstations were also determined. The model reproduced an output of 21 pallets per hour, equivalent to the observed production of 168 pallets per day. Among the scenarios evaluated, preventive maintenance provided the best balance between investment and return, with a projected monthly net profit of USD 4,409.20. Combining maintenance with an additional operator increased the projected net profit to USD 7,926.16 per month, subject to an adequate supply of raw materials. It is concluded that the model makes it possible to anticipate production constraints and support decisions aimed at improving production performance.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Milton Iván Villafuerte López, Alma Gabriela López Villacis, José David Barros Enríquez, Ángel Moisés Avemañay Morocho
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