Modeling and analysis to better understand manufacturing system complexities and predict system performance are critical in the design stage, and often valuable for ongoing systems management. This research explores the application of object-oriented programming for modeling and simulation of discrete-parts manufacturing systems. In this research, we propose a framework to characterize the development and use of object-oriented architectures for manufacturing systems modeling, apply the framework to survey existing research in the area, identify fundamental research and application issues, propose a conceptual model to view complexities in discrete-parts manufacturing systems from the perspective of material flow and control, and describe a computational architecture developed based on the underlying conceptual model. This research also integrates concepts from set theory, finite-state automata, and software engineering to provide a rigorous description of manufacturing system entities, their behavior, and their relationships with other entities in the architecture. The architecture and the underlying representations are demonstrated through proof-of-concept applications to modeling problems in semiconductor fabrication and in automated placement machines used for printed circuit card assembly.

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