SIMULATION MODEL OF LABOUR FORCE FOR THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY BASED ON SYSTEM DYNAMICS

The article presents the methodology of constructing a simulation model of the labour force
for a manufacturing company based on the System Dynamics method. The research
presented in the article was conducted in three manufacturing companies in Poland.
Initially, the key mental model variables of the labour force system were defined. The
process of defining the variables was supported by the management as well as by the people
directly linked to the labour force management in the manufacturing companies researched.
The next step was to combine the variables into a cause - effect diagram, which reflected
direct and indirect relationships between particular variables and which allowed to discover
some sorts of feedback loops in the system. Next, the cause-effect diagram was converted
into a simulation model. To that aim the simulation software, Vensim® was used. After
that, validation of the simulation model was conducted using the following methods:
assessing the correctness of the boundary of modelling, adequacy of the model structure and
adopted values (constants) compared with available knowledge about the modelled system,
testing the accuracy and consistency of the units of variables adopted in the model and
testing the model behaviour in extreme conditions. The conducted tests confirmed the
correctness of the constructed model. Finally, simulation of the model was conducted for the
manufacturing companies researched, the results obtained were discussed and final
conclusions were formulated. The article finishes with general indications of the direction of
the usage of the simulation model presented.

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