Discrete Event Simulation for Facility Layout Design of Precise Molecular Diagnostic Centers

Abstract

As the prevalence of high-risk infectious diseases increases, interest in automated disease diagnostic facilities has been growing. However, while conventional large diagnostic centers employ expensive fully automated diagnostic equipment, small and medium-sized diagnostic centers rely on manual diagnosis or individually separated small-scale automatic diagnosis for each diagnostic process due to limited operating space. To enhance productivity of the small and medium-sized centers, a precision molecular diagnostic system that integrates small-scale automated equipment for each diagnostic process has been developed. Nonetheless, determining the optimal number of equipment and required manpower for each diagnostic process remains a significant problem that needs to be addressed. In this study, to tackle this issue, we employ a discrete event simulation technique to simulate and analyze deployment of diagnostic equipment in a molecular diagnostic center. In particular, we explore various types of facility layouts to propose an optimal deployment strategy for diagnostic equipment in a precision molecular diagnostic facility, considering the size and volume of inspections performed in the diagnostic system.