Abstract
	Metallurgical production is characteristic by occurrence of so called floating capacity bottlenecks, i.e. the workplaces or devices that tend to become bottlenecks depending on the portfolio of products processed. It is necessary to search new tools for analysis of floating capacity bottlenecks to effective plan and control metallurgical processes. As universal tool can be used simulation for this purpose, which combine the “trial-and-error method” with a mathematical model with the aim of description and evaluation of a real system behaviour. The paper presents the methodology of simulation based on problem definition, construction of the simulation model, testing and validation the model, designing and conducting the experiments, and evaluating the results and recommends so called probability simulation as a suitable type of simulation for analysis of floating capacity bottlenecks. These findings are documented on example of simulation application for analysis of particular floating capacity bottleneck in metallurgical production – the line for the cutting of hot rolled bars, which is part of rolling mill plant in a metallurgical company. Constructed simulation model provides relatively cheaply and quickly conceptions about permeability of the cutting line. Simulation of various order structures enables to determine whether the cutting line is the capacity bottleneck in case decrease of minimum order quantity, increasing of the share of orders with low quantity or decrease of the share of orders with higher diameters. In addition, the simulation model allows evaluation of impacts of decisions for increasing the cutting line output. In conclusion there is comparison of capacity calculations and simulation application for the purpose of analysis of floating capacity bottlenecks. Contrary to the capacity calculations simulation can be used for analysis of more complex metallurgical processes with occurrence of significant stochastic influences.