Evaluating the Performance of the Production Line with Simulation Approach in Meat Processing Industry: A Case from Turkey

The production capacity and employment in the meat processing industry in Turkey has increased in parallel with the demand of the growing population. The meat processing industry turns animal raw materials into ready-to-eat products with a long shelf life such as sausages, garlic-flavored fermented sausages, salami, bacon, roasted meat, and ham. It is clear that the meat processing industry is entirely dependent on animal husbandry. However, due to animal production rate exceeds the rate of meat consumption in Turkey, both government agencies and organizations, as well as meat processing companies, are forced to manage the demand for meat and to improve their production lines. In this study, in order to meet the increasing demand of customers in a meat processing company operating in Istanbul, 4 different scenarios were developed with the idea of how to create more final products in the same working time. The scenarios were examined using the simulation model and the utilization rates of machines have been evaluated. In addition, the effects of the scenarios on the final product amount were discussed. Thus, the findings of the study assisted the decision-makers in the company for the selection of the right approach.