This paper presents some of my experience in applying a commercial optimum-seeking simulation tool to manufacturing system design and control problems. After a brief introduction to both the general approach and to the specific tool being used, namely OptQuest for Arena, the main body of the paper reports on the use of the tool in tackling two manufacturing system design and control problems, one very simple and one significantly more complex. The paper concludes with some material highlighting

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... how easy the tool is to apply to this kind of problem and also presents some thoughts on how the tool might be enhanced to improve its value. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY PAUL ROGERS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Calgary. His research and teaching interests include production planning and control systems, manufacturing strategy, distributed and dynamic scheduling in electronics manufacturing, object-oriented modeling for intelligent manufacturing, simulation of intelligent agent systems, and models for the design and analysis of manufacturing systems. He is a Professional Engineer registered with the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA), a member of IIE, APICS, and INFORMS, and serves on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing. He holds Ph.D. and M.Eng. degrees from Cambridge University in England. He can be contacted by email at .