Optimizing manufacturing processes with inaccurate models of the process will lead to unreliable results. This can be true when there is a strong human influence on the manufacturing process and many variable aspects. This study investigates modelling a manufacturing process influenced by human interaction with very variable products being processed. To develop a more accurate process model for such processes radio frequency identification (RFID) tags can be used to track products through the

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... ocess. The tags record information for each product and this data can be used to produce more accurate models of the manufacturing process. The data produced has been used to create a Markov chain model. This model is used to predict future product paths for use in discrete event simulation. In this case an IT refurbishment company is used as a case study. RFID tags have been utilized to track the IT products moving through the refurbishment process and this information has been used to produce a Markov chain model.