Abstract: A method of operating a set of dispatchers for a manufacturing facility, wherein each dispatcher of the set of dispatchers is a software application that makes dispatch decisions for the manufacturing facility based on facility data related to the manufacturing facility, includes identifying a first dispatcher of the set of dispatchers, wherein the first dispatcher is a non-initialized dispatcher, selecting, as an initialization partner, a second dispatcher of the set of dispatchers, and causing the first dispatcher to initiate a data retrieval process with the second dispatcher to retrieve, from the second dispatcher, an initial set of facility data related to the manufacturing facility.

Abstract: A computer system identifies a dispatching rule that corresponds to a dispatching decision to be made in a simulation of a production environment. The dispatching rule is associated with a set of data processes. The computer system identifies a subset of the data processes that is to be executed in the simulation and executes the subset of data processes to simulate the dispatching rule to make the dispatching decision. The computing system generates a simulation decision that describes the dispatching decision made from executing the subset of data processes.