A simulation study of the dynamic behavior of a Newfoundland seasonal fish processing operation

Boone, Aldwin Hayward (1978) A simulation study of the dynamic behavior of a Newfoundland seasonal fish processing operation. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (40MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

In today's highly competitive fishing industry, a fish plant manager must operate his plant to maximum efficiency and take whatever action he deems necessary to keep ahead of his fellow competitors. There are limited fish resource and markets available and if he doesn't remain competitive, other fish processing plants will force him out of business. The supply of fish to the Newfoundland processing plants has been one of the major factors in determining the production patterns. Besides the problem of the supply of fish, there are other variables which the plant manager encounters, such as changes in prices of raw material, labour rates, equipment breakdowns, selling price fluctuations and market demands, etc. -- Other requirements for an efficient plant operation are related to the managerial skills, mainly one of predicting or forecasting what actions need to be taken. These skills relate to the extent to which management is able to quickly and accurately analyse and establish the best course of action. -- The objective of this study was to develop a computer model, which would be able to simulate a fish processing operation with various input parameters. These parameters would relate to raw material quantities and prices, finished product order demands, selling prices, labour productivity, labour rates, plant and equipment capacities and other variables of the processing operation. -- The study undertook to develop a systems dynamic model of a Newfoundland inshore fish processing plant. The procedure of systems dynamics was based on Forrester's works in industrial dynamics, (Forrester 1960). A model logic was developed based on the actual physical observations of the plant. After the model logic had been tested on the computer, simulations were performed based on the initial data input of the plant. The model was built to simulate every day operation for a 300 working day year. Various computer simulations were performed for a selected number of changes in the initial data input and possible economic and production outcomes were compared. -- These comparisons relate to profits, cash flows, sales revenue and costs, assets and liabilities, profit return ratios, production rates, freezing rates, inventory holdings, employment, etc. The exercise of developing a systems dynamic model and its subsequent use as a simulation tool to assist management in decision making has been adequately demonstrated.

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