FlexSim Supplemental Trainingpart of the

FlexSim Education Initiative:

• Textbook: Applied Simulation, modeling and Analysis using FlexSim– Educator support materials– Video insight series

• Supplemental training 4 week series– Introduction, In-depth topics

• FlexSim application aids (help menu)– User Manual– Getting Started tutorials

• FlexSim formal training courses– Basic, Advanced, Specialized

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Example Model- Overview

• Introduction of common modelling concepts– Dynamic routing decisions– Itemtypes– Labels– Statistical Distributions– Object Triggers– Global Tables

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Model Description• Purpose

– Learn how to assign and use labels on flowitems for routing and processing purposes. Learn how to use an empirical distribution to assign itemtypes.

• Description– Parts arrive in a queue exponentially every 30 seconds. There are

four part types (1,2,3,4) distributed (20%, 30%, 40%, 10%) respectively (see dempirical in Flexsim Command Summary).

– The parts are processed on one of four machines. Each machine is dedicated to a single part type. The processing times at each machine is uniform(100,120) seconds for first time parts, and uniform(120,130) seconds for rework parts.

– After the parts are machined, they are put in a queue and wait to be tested. The test time is a constant 10 seconds. Parts that pass, leave the model, failed parts are routed back to the first queue to be reworked. 10% of the parts fail.

– Parts being reworked are given priority in the queue.

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Model Layout

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Model Flow – From the Source to the Sink

Requirements:• Four part types• Each part type has a dedicated machine• Randomly assign part types

Concepts:• Itemtype Attribute• Send to Port picklist options• Statistical distributions• Object triggers

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Understanding the Basic Pick List

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Choose an option or type an expression

directly into the field

Edit the selectedoption graphically(template editing)

Edit Code for thisoption

Option Name

Editing Picklists

• Graphical pop-up windows will guide you in editing picklist options. Different options will require different information to use correctly

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Using Distributions

What you need to know:• The name of the distribution• The parameters it requires

– Check the documentation!

• Where to use it!

Example: dempirical(“TableName”)See the commands help from within Flexsim for more

information

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Order of Execution(pushed flowitem)

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OnEntry flowitem enters Setup Time Pick Operator

OnSetupFinishProcess Time

delay

Pick Operator

OnProcessFinish

Use TransportOnExit

Send To Port

delay

delaypossible

delay

Ex. Change Source Arrival

• The statistical probability distribution which best simulates the inter-arrival pattern is an exponential distribution with a location value of 0 and a scale value of 30.

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Itemtypes• itemtype – all flowitems

have an attribute called itemtype. It’s a numeric identifier used to distinguish one “type” of flowitem from another in processing and routing decisions in a model.

• Addressable to the user via getitemtype( flowitem )

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Concept of Triggers• When key events occur on an object, a

trigger is fired.• The user may specify a variety of things to

happen when a trigger fires (trigger logic).• There are triggers when a flowitem enters

or exits an object. There are triggers when a process time finishes or a repair time is complete.

• Each type of object has a unique set of triggers.

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Triggers• Define and customize

system behavior at a specific event occurrence.– Write/read information

to/from a flowitem.– Change visual properties

of flowitems or objects.– Send Messages to other

objects.– Change behavior of other

objects.– And much more…

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Understanding the Trigger Pick List

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Trigger NameEdit** the options

(template editing)

Edit Code for thisoption

**The Edit button shown will take on the “Add” iconWhen no options are selected for the trigger.

Editing Triggers

• Trigger pop-up windows show all the active options for the trigger

• Add or remove options with the appropriate buttons

• Individual options can be editing by clicking the hide/collapse triangle

• Blue Text can be edited. Tab will jump between fields. Some options have a hint window 1515

Labels• labels – information can

be stored on flowitems (and other modelling objects) in the form of labels.

• Flowitems and other Flexsim objects can have an unlimited number of labels.

• Labels have a name and data. The data may be numeric, string, list, or table.

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Object Labels• syntax

– getlabelnum( object, “labelname” )– setlabelnum( object, “labelname” , value )– getlabelstr( object, “labelname” )– setlabelstr( object, “labelname” , string )– label( object, “labelname” )

• examples– getlabelnum( item, “serialnumber” )– setlabelnum( item, “serialnumber”, 5 )– getlabelstr( current, “category” )– setlabelstr( current, “category”, “groceries” )– inc( label(item, “stepnum”), 1 )

• The increment command only works with number data1717

The Flowitem Bin• Sources create copies

of objects in the Flowitem Bin

• Any changes made to objects in the Bin affect the flowitems that are created by Sources

• Used to create labels, set size, color, shape, etc.

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Routing Back to the Queue

Requirement:• 10% of all tested parts fail, and are sent

back to the first queue awaiting rework.

Concepts:• Send to Port picklist• Object Trigger Events

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Edit Object Behavior

Requirements:• Conditional process times based on items needing to

be reworked• Prioritize items in the queue that need to be reworked

Concepts:• Labels• Object Trigger Events• Statistical distributions

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Questions & Bonus

• Where is the bottleneck?

• Can you change the color of failed parts?

• Change the model to count how many times a part has failed.

• Add a Dashboard to Track throughput per hour of the system.

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Dashboards• Adds customizable charts

and graphs that update in real-time with your model

• Many Predesigned charts available

• Using the Tracked Variables tool, also allows for the creation of user defined charts

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