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New factories are reaching ever increasing levels of sophistication, and as their levels ascend, so must the level of the tools used in the design process. Using simulation models that are powerful, flexible and quick to develop and analyze are still years away. However, a methodology combining a rapid modeling technique and a general purpose simulation model is bringing that time closer. The rapid modeling technique enables one to substantially reduce the number of design alternatives in the analysis stage. Selected alternatives can than be analyzed on the simulation model to use analysis time more effectively. The paper describes how IBM used this approach in designing a factory to manufacture printed circuit boards. For the rapid modelling they chose Manuplan, a queueing network analysis tool, and for the simulation they chose SLAM II.