ARENA-UM001D-EN-P_Ttlepage 11/30/07 3:47 PM Page 1 Arena® USER’S GUIDE PUBLICATION ARENA-UM001D-EN-P–November 2007 Supersedes Publication ARENA-UM001C-EN-P
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Contents 1 • Welcome What is Arena software? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intended audience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Where can I go for help? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reference the user’s guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Animate the mortgage review clerk resource . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plot the number of applications in-process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What is a model thumbnail? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rerun the simulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Next steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Signal module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Store module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unstore module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjust Variable module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Data modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Network module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Network Link module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Activity Area module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 6 • The Flow Process Panel Flowchart modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C • Using Visio and Arena Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Visio Process Simulation add-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Start a drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Place and connect shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enter custom properties . . .
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Welcome 1 • Welcome 1 What is Arena software? Arena software enables you to bring the power of modeling and simulation to your business. It is designed for analyzing the impact of changes involving significant and complex redesigns associated with supply chain, manufacturing, processes, logistics, distribution and warehousing, and service systems. Arena software provides the maximum flexibility and breadth of application coverage to model any desired level of detail and complexity.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Where can I go for help? Our commitment to your success starts with the suite of learning aids and assistance we provide for Arena. Whether you’re new to simulation or a seasoned veteran putting a new tool to use, you’ll quickly feel at home with the Arena software.
• • • • • 1 • WELCOME Access the Arena Symbol Factory Get phone support Rockwell Automation provides full support for the entire Arena family of products. Questions concerning installation, how modules work, the use of the model editor, and the use of the software are handled by technical support.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE download page where you can check for possible software updates (patches). If you can’t find the answer you need, contact your local representative or Arena technical support. Get training Do you need training? Rockwell Automation offers a standard training course comprised of lecture and hands-on workshops designed to introduce you to the fundamental concepts of modeling with Arena. We also offer customized training courses designed to meet your specific needs.
2 Getting Started Introduction While you may not realize it quite yet, you now have the power to transform your business. Whenever you and others in your organization are wondering “what if…?,” you can look into the future to find the answer. With Arena, you can: Model your processes to define, document, and communicate. Simulate the future performance of your system to understand complex relationships and identify opportunities for improvement.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE The Arena modeling environment If Arena is not already running, start it from the Windows Start menu and navigate to Programs > Rockwell Software > Arena. The Arena modeling environment will open with a new model window, as shown below. Project Bar Model window flowchart view Model window spreadsheet view The Project Bar usually is docked at the left of the Arena application window, but can tear off or dock at another position like any toolbar.
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED elements. The lower, spreadsheet view displays model data, such as times, costs, and other parameters. As we model the mortgage application process, we’ll work in all three of these regions of Arena. Map your process in a flowchart This raises a key question in process modeling: What exactly is it that will flow through the chart? We’re modeling the process of reviewing mortgage applications.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Every process flow starts with a Create module. When you simulate the flowchart, individual entities will be created according to timing information you supply in the Create module properties. After it’s created, each entity moves from the Create module to the next shape in the process flow. Process the applications If your Create and Process weren’t connected automatically when you placed the Process, check the Object > Auto-Connect menu to verify that it’s checked.
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED 2 • Getting Started Note: If no connection appears between Create and Process, click the Object > Connect menu item or the Connect toolbar button to draw a connection. Your cursor will change to a cross hair. Start the connection by clicking the exit point ( ) of the Create module, then click the entry point ( ) of the Process module to complete the connection.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Decide whether applications are complete After the Process, we have a Decide module, from the Basic Process panel, which determines whether the mortgage application is complete. 1. If you’re using the Auto-Connect feature (i.e., it’s checked on the Object > AutoConnect menu), be sure that the Process module is selected so that the Decide will be connected to it. 2. Drag a Decide module to the right of the Process module.
Entity flow always begins with a Create module and terminates with a Dispose module. You may have as many of each of these modules as you need to generate entities into the model and to remove them when their processing is complete. • • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED 2. Drag a Dispose module to the right of the Decide module. Arena will connect it to the primary (True) exit point of the Decide module. (We won’t include a graphic display since you’re now familiar with the drag-and-drop sequence.) 3.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Define model data Now that we’ve drawn the basic flowchart for our mortgage application process, let’s define the data associated with the modules, including the name of the module and information that will be used when we simulate the process. Initiate mortgage application (Create module) First, let’s visit the Create module, which will be named Initiate Mortgage Application. Its data will include the type of entity to be created—in our case, a mortgage Application.
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED What are entities? Entities are the items—customers, documents, parts—that are being served, produced, or otherwise acted on by your process. In business processes, they often are documents or electronic records (checks, contracts, applications, purchase orders). In service systems, entities usually are people (the customers being served in a restaurant, hospital, airport, etc.).
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE For our Review Application process, we’ll use a minimum time of 1 hour, most likely value of 1.75 hours, and a maximum of 3 hours. We will assign a resource, the Mortgage Review Clerk, to perform this process. If more than one resource is required for a process to be performed, add as many as are necessary in the Process dialog’s Resources list. An entity won’t commence its process delay until all listed resources are available. 1.
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED 5. In the Resource Name field of the Resource dialog box, type Mortgage Review Clerk. 6. Click OK to close the Resource dialog box. 8. Click OK to close the dialog box. For now, we’ll leave the default values for the other Process module properties. Feel free to explore their purposes through online help or the “Modeling Concepts” and “Resources” models in the SMARTs library.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE 3. For the Percent True field, type 88 to define the percent of entities that will be treated with a “True” decision (i.e., will depart through the exit point at the right of the Decide module). 4. Click OK to close the dialog box. Accepted, Returned (Dispose module) In our simple process for reviewing mortgage applications, all the work that we’re interested in is done.
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED 4. Click OK to close the dialog box. 2 • Getting Started Mortgage review clerk (Resource module) Along with our flowchart, we also can define parameters associated with other elements of our model, such as resources, entities, queues, etc. For the mortgage process, we’ll simply define the cost rate for the Mortgage Review Clerk so that our simulation results will report the cost associated with performing this process. The clerk’s costs are fixed at $12 per hour.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prepare for the simulation To make the model ready for simulation, we’ll specify general project information and the duration of the simulation run. Since we’re just testing our first-cut model, we’ll perform a short, 20-day run. 1. Open the Project Parameters dialog box by using the Run > Setup menu item and clicking the Project Parameters tab.
If Arena displays an error message, you can use the Find button in the error window to locate the source of the problem. You can change between the error and model windows by selecting them from the Window menu. • • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED As the simulation progresses, you’ll see small entity pictures resembling pages moving among the flowchart shapes. Also, a variety of variables change values as entities are created and processed, as illustrated below.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE You also can step through the simulation one event at a time. Pause the simulation, then click the Step button or press the F10 key. Each time you step the simulation, an entity is moved through the flowchart. Usually, you’ll see animation of the entity’s movement, though sometimes no visual change will take place (e.g., when the next event is creating a new entity). When this occurs, just step again to move forward to the next event.
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED By clicking on the entries inside the category sections, you can view various types of results from the simulation run. The following table illustrates some of the questions you could answer from the Category Overview Report on our simple mortgage application process simulation. Report Section Answer On average, how long did mortgage applications spend in the modeled process? Total Time (Entity), Average column 16.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Note: You can toggle between the split view (flowchart and spreadsheet) and a full-screen view of either area by clicking the Split Screen toolbar button or selecting the View > Split Screen menu item. When in full-screen view, clicking the icons on the Basic Process panel displays the appropriate view (flowchart for flowchart modules and spreadsheet for data-only modules).
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED Animate the mortgage review clerk resource During the simulation run, our Mortgage Review Clerk resource can be in one of two states. If no mortgage application entity is in-process, then the resource is idle. We’ll use a picture of a person sitting at a desk to depict idleness. When an entity seizes the resource, the Mortgage Review Clerk’s state is changed to busy, in which case our picture will show the person reviewing a document. 1.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE 8. If you’d like to have the clerk appear a bit larger, select the picture and use the resize handles to enlarge it. How do I use Rulers and Guides? Rulers Guides Glue to Guides Selecting the Rulers command on the View menu toggles horizontal and vertical rulers at the top and left edges of each drawing window. The ruler labels display the (+/-) distance from the origin in Arena world units.
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED Plot the number of applications in-process Our second animation enhancement is a plot of how many mortgage applications are under review as the simulation progresses. This will give us a sense of the dynamics of the workload, which can vary quite a bit when the random nature of processes is incorporated into a simulated model. 1. Click the Plot button on the Animate toolbar.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE With the edits complete, you may want to save them by clicking Save or pressing Ctrl+S. What is a model thumbnail? The Navigate panel on the Project Bar provides a model navigation tree for maneuvering through the different named views and hierarchical levels defined in the model. Included as part of the Navigate panel is a model thumbnail that helps users orient and change the current view within the active drawing window.
• • • • • 2 • GETTING STARTED Next steps You’ve succeeded in modeling, simulating, visualizing, and analyzing a simple mortgage application process. To further explore Arena’s capabilities, try solving a few of these extensions to the process. 1. Add a screening process before the application is reviewed. 2. Return some applications to the mortgage applicants after the screening process. On completion of the screening, 8% of the applications are returned.
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3 The Basic Process Panel This chapter describes the flowchart and data modules that you’ll use to model your process. Additionally, this chapter includes example uses of each module. Flowchart modules Flowchart modules are the set of objects that are placed in the model window to describe the simulation process. Create module DESCRIPTION This module is intended as the starting point for entities in a simulation model. Entities are created using a schedule or based on a time between arrivals.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Expression Any distribution or value specifying the time between arrivals. Applies only when Type is Expression. Units Time units used for interarrival and first creation times. Does not apply when Type is Schedule. Entities per Arrival Number of entities that will enter the system at a given time with each arrival. Max Arrivals Maximum number of entities that this module will generate.
• • • • • 3 • THE BASIC PROCESS PANEL Process module DESCRIPTION Indicator of a submodel process This module is intended as the main processing method in the simulation. Options for seizing and releasing resource constraints are available. Additionally, there is the option to use a “submodel” and specify hierarchical user-defined logic. The process time is allocated to the entity and may be considered to be value added, non-value added, transfer, wait, or other.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE 32 Prompt Description Delay Type Type of distribution or method of specifying the delay parameters. Constant and Expression require single values, while Normal, Uniform, and Triangular require several parameters. Units Time units for delay parameters. Allocation Determines how the processing time and process costs will be allocated to the entity.
• • • • • 3 • THE BASIC PROCESS PANEL Process module — Resource dialog PROMPTS Description Type Specification of a particular resource, or selecting from a pool of resources (i.e., a resource set). Resource Name Name of the resource that will be seized and/or released. Applies only when Type is Resource. Set Name Name of the resource set from which a member will be seized and/or released.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Decide module DESCRIPTION Number of entities that have taken the True branch Number of entities that have taken the False branch This module allows for decision-making processes in the system. It includes options to make decisions based on one or more conditions (e.g., if entity type is Gold Card) or based on one or more probabilities (e.g., 75%, true; 25%, false). Conditions can be based on attribute values (e.g., Priority), variable values (e.g.
Prompt Description Named Specifies either the name of the variable, attribute, orentity type that will be evaluated when an entity enters the module. Does not apply when Type is Expression. Is Evaluator for the condition. Applies only to Attribute and Variable conditions. Row Specifies the row index for a variable array. Applies only when Type is N-way by Condition or 2-way by Condition and Variable is Array 1-D or Array 2-D. Column Specifies the column index for a variable array.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Unique module identifier displayed on the module shape. Type Method of batching entities together. Batch Size Number of entities to be batched. Save Criterion Method for assigning representative entity’s user-defined attribute values. Rule Determines how incoming entities will be batched. Any Entity will take the first “Batch Size” number of entities and put them together.
• • • • • 3 • THE BASIC PROCESS PANEL PROMPTS Description Name Unique module identifier displayed on the module shape. Type Method of separating the incoming entity. Duplicate Original will simply take the original entity and make some number of identical duplicates. Split Existing Batch requires that the incoming entity be a temporarily batched entity using the Batch module. The original entities from the batch will be split.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Unique module identifier displayed on the module shape. Assignments Specifies the one or more assignments that will be made when an entity executes the module. Type Type of assignment to be made. Other can include system variables, such as resource capacity or simulation end time. Variable Name Name of the variable that will be assigned a new value when an entity enters the module.
• • • • • 3 • THE BASIC PROCESS PANEL PROMPTS Description Name Unique module identifier displayed on the module shape. Type Type of observational (tally) or count statistic to be generated. Count will increase or decrease the value of the named statistic by the specified value. Entity Statistics will generate general entity statistics, such as time and costing/duration information. Time Interval will calculate and record the difference between a specified attribute’s value and current simulation time.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Data modules Data modules are the set of objects in the spreadsheet view of the model that define the characteristics of various process elements, such as resources and queues. Entity module DESCRIPTION This data module defines the various entity types and their initial picture values in a simulation. Initial costing information and holding costs are also defined for the entity.
Prompt Description Initial Other Cost Initial cost value that will be assigned to the other cost attribute of the entity. This attribute accrues the costs incurred when an entity is spending time in another activity. Report Statistics Specifies whether or not statistics will be collected automatically and stored in the report database for this entity type. • • • • • 3 • THE BASIC PROCESS PANEL Queue module DESCRIPTION This data module may be utilized to change the ranking rule for a specified queue.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Resource module DESCRIPTION This data module defines the resources in the simulation system, including costing information and resource availability. Resources may have a fixed capacity that does not vary over the simulation run or may operate based on a schedule. Resource failures and states can also be specified in this module.
Prompt Description Per Use Cost of a resource on a usage basis, regardless of the time for which it is used. Each time the resource is allocated to an entity, it will incur a peruse cost. StateSet Name Name of states that the resource may be assigned during the simulation run. Initial State Initial state of a resource. If specified, the name must be defined within the repeat group of state names. This field is shown only when a StateSet Name is defined.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE TYPICAL USES Number of documents processed per hour Serial number to assign to parts for unique identification Space available in a facility PROMPTS Prompt Description Name The unique name of the variable being defined. Rows Number of rows in a dimensional variable. Columns Number of columns in a dimensional variable. Data Type The data type of the values stored in the variable. Valid types are Real and String. The default type is Real.
• • • • • 3 • THE BASIC PROCESS PANEL Patterns. (For more details, refer to the section entitled “Calendar schedule information” on page 47.) TYPICAL USES Work schedule for staff, including breaks Breakdown patterns for equipment Volume of customers arriving at a store Learning-curve factors for new workers PROMPTS Description Name The name of the schedule being defined. This name must be unique. Format Type Format of schedule being defined.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Set module DESCRIPTION This data module defines various types of sets, including resource, counter, tally, entity type, and entity picture. Resource sets can be used in the Process modules (and Seize, Release, Enter, and Leave of the Advanced Process and Advanced Transfer panels). Counter and Tally sets can be used in the Record module.
• • • • • 3 • THE BASIC PROCESS PANEL Calendar schedule information Time Pattern DESCRIPTION A Time Pattern defines a series of values that change over time. For example, a worker might be on duty during a standard work shift from Monday through Friday. The availability of the worker could be represented as a value of 1 when he’s on duty, 0 when he’s off duty. The time pattern that defines this availability schedule would list the changes from on duty to off duty over the week.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE 48 Prompt Description Duration The length of this time pattern, which establishes the period in which the time pattern will repeat. For example, a time pattern of Duration equal to 1 day will repeat every 24 hours. This field is read-only, displaying the settings chosen in the Duration Edit dialog box for this time pattern. Base Date The beginning calendar date of this time pattern. Applies only when the time pattern type is Custom.
• • • • • 3 • THE BASIC PROCESS PANEL Calendar Exceptions DESCRIPTION An Exception defines a value that is to be applied for a resource over some fixed period of time. The exception value overrides the base value defined for the resource. For example, if a machine’s capacity was scheduled to be available (value of 1) during second shift according to its base time pattern, you could add an exception to change it to unavailable for second shift on a particular day (e.g., December 30, 2005).
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Calendar States DESCRIPTION A Calendar State defines a name that can be used in place of a numeric value when defining time patterns and exceptions. This can be useful if a particular value (e.g., the number of workers in a pool of labor) needs to be entered in multiple places, but may need to be modified. By entering the state name in the time patterns/exceptions, you can modify the value associated with the state, which will apply the new value in all of those places.
4 The Advanced Process Panel This chapter presents the modules included on the Advanced Process panel, where you’ll find additional functionality for modeling your process. Example uses of each module are included in this section. Flowchart modules Flowchart modules are the set of objects that are placed in the model window to describe the simulation process. Delay module DESCRIPTION The Delay module delays an entity by a specified amount of time.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Dropoff module DESCRIPTION The Dropoff module removes a specified number of entities from the entity’s group and sends them to another module, as specified by a graphical connection. Group user-defined attribute value and internal attributes may be given to the dropped-off entities based on a specified rule.
TYPICAL • • • • • 4 • THE ADVANCED PROCESS PANEL USES Waiting for a traffic light to turn green Holding a part for authorization Checking the status of a machine or operator to continue a process PROMPTS Description Name Unique module identifier displayed on the module shape. Type Indicates the reasoning for holding the entity within a specified or internal queue. Wait for Signal will hold the entity until a signal of the same value is received.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Attribute This field is visible only if Queue Type is Attribute. The attribute entered in this field will be evaluated to indicate which queue is to be used. Expression This field is visible only if Queue Type is Expression. The expression entered in this field will be evaluated to indicate which queue is to be used. Match module DESCRIPTION The Match module brings together a specified number of entities waiting in different queues.
• • • • • 4 • THE ADVANCED PROCESS PANEL Pickup module DESCRIPTION The Pickup module removes a number of consecutive entities from a given queue starting at a specified rank in the queue. The entities that are picked up are added to the end of the incoming entity’s group.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and ActiveX Data Objects Access Types. When an entity arrives at the ReadWrite module, the specified file is examined to see if an ADO connection to the file is open (active).
Prompt Description Overriding File Format Format for writing or reading the data. This format will override any format specified in the structure field of the File module. A FORTRAN or C format (enclosed in double quotes) may be used to describe the type and location of each field. Recordset ID Access Type Identifies the recordset in Arena File Name that will be accessed. Applies only when the file (specified in the File module) is Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, or ActiveX Data Objects.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Unique module identifier displayed on the module shape. Type Type of resource for releasing, either specifying a particular resource, or selecting from a pool of resources (i.e., a resource set). The resource name may also be specified by an expression or attribute value. Resource Name Name of the resource that will be released. Set Name Name of the resource set from which a member will be released.
• • • • • 4 • THE ADVANCED PROCESS PANEL PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Unique module identifier displayed on the module shape. Queue Name Name of the queue from which the entity will be removed. Rank of Entity Rank of the entity to remove from within the queue. Seize module DESCRIPTION The Seize module allocates units of one or more resources to an entity.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE 60 Prompt Description Expression Expression that evaluates to a resource name to be seized. Quantity Number of resources of a given name or from a given set that will be seized. For sets, this value specifies only the number of a selected resource that will be seized (based on the resource’s capacity), not the number of members to be seized within the set. Selection Rule Method of selecting among available resources in a set.
Prompt Description Attribute This field is visible only if Queue Type is Attribute. The attribute entered in this field will be evaluated to indicate which queue is to be used. Expression This field is visible only if Queue Type is Expression. The expression entered in this field will be evaluated to indicate which queue is to be used.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Queue Name Name of the queue that will be searched. Applies only when the Type is Search a Queue. Starting Value Starting rank in the queue or group or starting value for J in an expression. Ending Value Ending rank in the queue or group or ending value for J in an expression. Search Condition Condition containing the index J for searching expressions or containing an attribute name(s) for searching queues or batches.
• • • • • 4 • THE ADVANCED PROCESS PANEL Store module DESCRIPTION The Store module adds an entity to storage. The Unstore module may then be used to remove the entity from the storage. When an entity arrives at the Store module, the storage specified is incremented, and the entity immediately moves to the next module in the model. Storages are useful for displaying entity animation while an entity undergoes processing in other modules.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE TYPICAL USES Removing the entity from an animation location when processing is complete Tracking the number of customers within a grocery store (unstore upon exit) PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Unique module identifier displayed on the module shape. Type Method of specifying the storage name as a Storage, Set, Attribute, or Expression. Default will remove an entity from the last storage that it entered.
TYPICAL • • • • • 4 • THE ADVANCED PROCESS PANEL USES Rotate a resource picture to 180 degrees at a rate of 5 degrees per second PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Unique module identifier. This name is displayed on the module shape. Variable Type Specifies the array characteristics of the variable being adjusted. Row Specifies the row index if the variable is an array. Column Specifies the column index if the variable is a 2-D array.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE TYPICAL USES Various checkout queues in a grocery store (queues) Animation locations for performing operations (storages) PROMPTS Prompt Description Name The name of the advanced set whose members are being defined. This name must be unique. Set Type Type of set that is being defined, which may include Queue, Storage, or Other types of sets. Queue Name Name of the queues that are included within a queue set.
• • • • • 4 • THE ADVANCED PROCESS PANEL PROMPTS Prompt Description Name The name of the expression whose characteristics are being defined. This name must be unique. Row Maximum number of rows in the defined expression. Column Maximum number of columns in the defined expression. Visible only when the number of rows is specified. Expression Value Expression value associated with the expression name. Failure module DESCRIPTION The Failure module is designed for use with resources.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Uptime in this State only Defines the state that should be considered for the time between failures (only for time-based failures). If state is not specified, then all states are considered (i.e., the time between failures does not depend on the time spent in a specific state, but rather on the total simulation time).
Prompt Description Recordset Name Name used to identify the recordset in ReadWrite module. This name must be unique within the file. Command Text Text of the command that will be used to open the recordset (e.g., SQL statement, procedure name, table name.) Command Type Type of command entered in the CommandText. Named Range The named range in the Excel workbook to which the recordset refers. Table Name The name of the table in the Access database to which the recordset refers.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Statistic module DESCRIPTION The Statistic module is used to define additional statistics that are to be collected during the simulation and also to specify output data files. While summary statistics (e.g., Average and Maximum) are automatically generated for each statistic, if you specify an output file, then each individual observation (e.g., each tally recorded) is written out to an output file.
Description Report Label Defines the symbol name for the expression. This name appears as the report label associated with the expression in the reports. If a statistic has already been defined through a different module, the Report Label field will automatically appear. Applies only when Type is Time-Persistent, Output, or Frequency. Limit May be used to define the terminating condition for a simulation replication.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Category Name Defines the symbol name for this category. This name appears in the summary report as the category identifier. If left blank, the identifier will simply be the Value or Range. Category Option This field indicates whether or not a particular category is to be excluded from the Restricted Column in the summary report. Storage module DESCRIPTION The Storage module defines the name of a storage.
5 The Advanced Transfer Panel This chapter presents the modules from the Advanced Transfer panel, which includes the modules needed for modeling the movement of entities from one location to another. Example uses of each module are included in this section. General flowchart modules Flowchart modules are the set of objects that are placed in the model window to describe the simulation process.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE 74 Prompt Description Report Statistics Specifies whether or not statistics will automatically be collected and stored in the report database for this station and its corresponding activity area. Set Name Name of the station set. A given station set can only exist once within a model. Save Attribute Specifies the attribute to be used to store the index into the station set for an entity entering this module.
Prompt Description Resource Type Type of allocation, either single Resource or resource Set. Resource Name Name of the resource to release. Active when Transfer Name is Release Resource. Set Name Name of the resource set from which the resource is to be released. Release Rule Determines which member of the set is to be released, either the Last Member Seized, First Member Seized, or Specific Member. Set Index Index into the set that determines which member of the set is to be released.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE 76 Prompt Description Units Time units used for the delay time. Transfer Out Determines whether a resource (Seize Resource), transporter (Request Transporter), or conveyor (Access Conveyor) is required prior to transferring the entity out of this module. Priority Indicates the priority of the module when either seizing a resource or requesting a transporter when there are entities waiting for that resource/transporter from other modules.
Prompt Description Resource Name Name of the resource to seize. Conveyor Name Name of the conveyor to access. # of Cells Number of contiguous cells the entity requires. Connect Type Determines if the entity is to Route, Convey, or Transport to another station or Connect to another module. Move Time Time to route from this module to the destination station. Units Time units used for the move time.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Test Condition Test condition to use for the station selection process, either Minimum or Maximum. Number En Route to Station The number of entities transferring to the station is considered in the station selection process. Number in Queue The number of entities in the queue at the station is considered in the station selection process.
• • • • • 5 • THE ADVANCED TRANSFER PANEL Route module DESCRIPTION The Route module transfers an entity to a specified station or the next station in the station visitation sequence defined for the entity. A delay time to transfer to the next station may be defined. When an entity enters the Route module, its Station attribute (Entity.Station) is set to the destination station. The entity is then sent to the destination station, using the route time specified.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Station module DESCRIPTION The Station module defines a station (or a set of stations) corresponding to a physical or logical location where processing occurs. If the Station module defines a station set, it is effectively defining multiple processing locations. The station (or each station within the defined set) has a matching Activity Area that is used to report all times and costs accrued by the entities in this station.
Prompt Description Associated Intersection Name of the intersection associated with this station set in a guided transporter network. Report Statistics Specifies whether or not statistics will automatically be collected and stored in the report database for this station set member and its corresponding activity area.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Set Index Defines the index into the queue set. Note that this is the index into the set and not the name of the queue in the set. For example, the only valid entries for a queue set containing three members is an expression that evaluates to 1, 2, or 3. Attribute Name Defines the name of the attribute that stores the queue name to which entities will reside.
Prompt Description Station Name Name of the individual station. Attribute Name Attribute that stores the station name to which entities will route. Expression Expression that is evaluated to the station name where entities will route. • • • • • 5 • THE ADVANCED TRANSFER PANEL Exit module DESCRIPTION The Exit module releases the entity’s cells on the specified conveyor.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Start module DESCRIPTION The Start module changes the status of a conveyor from inactive to active. The conveyor may have been deactivated from either the Stop module or by initially being set to inactive at the start of the simulation. The velocity of the conveyor may be changed permanently when the conveyor is started.
• • • • • 5 • THE ADVANCED TRANSFER PANEL PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Unique name of the module that will be displayed in the flowchart. Conveyor Name Name of the conveyor to stop. Transporter flowchart modules Activate module DESCRIPTION The Activate module increases the capacity of a previously halted transporter. The transporter unit that is activated will reside at the station location at which it was halted until it is moved or requested by an entity.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE TYPICAL USES A mechanic allocates a forklift for scheduled maintenance Allocate a taxi to pick up waiting passengers PROMPTS 86 Prompt Description Name Unique name of the module that will be displayed in the flowchart. Transporter Name Name of the transporter to allocate. Selection Rule Rule for determining which of the transporters to allocate to the entity.
• • • • • 5 • THE ADVANCED TRANSFER PANEL Free module DESCRIPTION The Free module releases the entity’s most recently allocated transporter unit. If another entity is waiting in a queue to request or allocate the transporter, the transporter will be given to that entity. If there are no waiting entities at the time the transporter unit is freed, the transporter will wait idle at the freeing entity’s station location, unless otherwise specified in the Transporter module.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Unique name of the module that will be displayed in the flowchart. Transporter Name Name of the transporter to halt. Unit Number Determines which of the transporter units in the transporter set to halt. Move module DESCRIPTION The Move module advances a transporter from one location to another without moving the controlling entity to the destination station.
Prompt Description Attribute Name Name of the attribute that stores the destination station name to which entities will route. Expression Expression that is evaluated to the destination station name where entities will route. Intersection Name Defines the name of the intersection to which the guided transporter will move. Network Link Name Defines the name of the network link to which the guided transporter will move. Zone The specific zone number of the Network Link Name.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Save Attribute Denotes the attribute name that will store the unit number of the selected transporter. Unit Number Determines the specific transporter unit in the transporter set to request. Priority Priority value of the entity waiting at this module for the transporter specified if one or more entities are waiting for the same transporter anywhere in the model. Entity Location The location to which the transporter will move after being allocated.
• • • • • 5 • THE ADVANCED TRANSFER PANEL If a free-path transporter is being used, then the time delay to move the entity and transporter from one station to the next is based on the velocity of the transporter and the distance between the stations (specified in the Distance module).
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Station Name Defines the name of the station with an associated intersection to which the guided transporter will move. Attribute Name Defines the name of the attribute that stores the station name with an associated intersection to which the guided transporter will move. Expression Defines an expression that evaluates to the network location (intersection, station, network link) to which the guided transporter will move.
• • • • • 5 • THE ADVANCED TRANSFER PANEL automatically updated whenever Entity.Sequence or Entity.JobStep changes, or whenever the entity enters a station. Jobstep names must be globally unique. TYPICAL USES Define a routing path for part processing Define a sequence of steps patients must take upon arrival at an emergency room PROMPTS Description Name Name of the sequence.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Conveyor module DESCRIPTION The Conveyor module allows the definition of either an accumulating or non-accumulating conveyor for entity movement between stations. When using a conveyor to transfer between modules, the conveyor must be defined using this module. TYPICAL USES Baggage-handling belt Bottling conveyor PROMPTS 94 Prompt Description Name Name of the conveyor.
• • • • • 5 • THE ADVANCED TRANSFER PANEL Segment module DESCRIPTION The Segment module defines the distance between two stations in the segment set of a conveyor. The beginning station, ending station, and segment are used to create the appropriate segment set, which defines the path of the conveyor. Typically, more than one Segment module is used to define the segment set.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE PROMPTS 96 Prompt Description Name Name of the transporter. Can be used to represent a set of multiple transporter units; each unit within the set is capable of independent movement. Number of Units Number of independent transporter units in the transporter set. Type Specifies whether the transporter set is free path or guided.
Prompt Description Initial Position Determines the type of initial position for the transporter unit(s). If a free-path transporter, Default will place the transporter at the first station location specified in the Distance module Distance Set. If a guided transporter, Default will place the transporter at the first network link specified in the Network module Network Name. Station Name Name of the station for the transporter’s initial position.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Distance set name. Beginning Station Starting station name. Ending Station Ending station name. Distance Distance between the beginning and ending station. Network module DESCRIPTION The Network module defines a system map that a set of guided transporters will follow. A network encompasses the set of links specified in its Network Links repeat group. The parameters of a network link (e.g.
• • • • • 5 • THE ADVANCED TRANSFER PANEL PROMPTS Prompt Description Name Name of the network link. Type The type of movement through the link. Beginning Intersection Name Name of beginning intersection of the intersection pair that the link connects. Ending Intersection Name Name of ending intersection of the intersection pair that the link connects. Beginning Direction Direction of link as it leaves the beginning intersection.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE PROMPTS 100 Prompt Description Name Name of the activity area’s parent. Description Optional field to describe the activity area. Organization Level Number used to define the hierarchy of the area. Parent Activity Area Name of the activity area’s parent. Report Statistics Specifies whether or not statistics will automatically be collected and stored in the report database for this activity area.
The Flow Process Panel To meet high-volume production requirements, manufacturing operations in the consumer packaged goods industry usually involve semi-continuous batch processing and/or highspeed packaging operations. While some of these operations can be modeled using discrete approximations, often a better approach is required. The Arena Flow Process template is one of a family of application solution templates (ASTs) built on the Arena simulation system.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE the Project Parameters dialog AND Report Statistics is checked for an individual tank module, then Arena will automatically create, collect, and report statistics for that tank.
• • • • • 6 • THE FLOW PROCESS PANEL Sensor module The Sensor module defines a detection device that monitors the level of material in a tank (Tank module). A sensor’s location is specified using the Tank Name, Location Type, Level, or Percentage prompts. A sensor is activated when its location is crossed in the Crossing Direction AND the sensor is enabled. When the sensor is activated, one or more Actions may be executed.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description New Maximum Rate The new maximum rate for the regulator. Units Time units of new maximum rate. Signal Value The signal value to send. Variable Name The name of the variable to assign. New Value The new variable value. Create Discrete Entity Specifies whether to create a discrete entity when the sensor is activated (triggered). Animation Specifies whether to display a “covered/uncovered” global picture for the sensor.
TYPICAL 6 • Flow Process The actual quantity transferred by an entity in the Flow module may be stored in the Quantity Save Attribute when the entity exits the module. USES Adding material to a tank Removing material from a tank Transferring material between two tanks PROMPTS Prompt Description Name The module’s identifier. Type The flow type, which may be Transfer, Add, or Remove.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Priority The priority of the flow operation when allocating limited input or output to multiple flow operations occurring at a tank. Allocation Determines how the time and costs accrued during the flow operation will be allocated to the entity. Quantity Save Attribute Attribute to save the quantity transferred by the entity.
• • • • • 6 • THE FLOW PROCESS PANEL Seize Regulator module 6 • Flow Process DESCRIPTION A tank regulator may be used for only one flow operation at any given time. The Seize Regulator module allocates one or more regulators to an entity. When an entity enters this module, it waits in a queue until all specified regulators are available simultaneously. An allocated regulator is released by an entity using the Release Regulator module.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Prompt Description Rule Number Specifies number argument that is passed to the UserRule routine. Attribute Name Name of the attribute that stores the name of the regulator to seize. Expression Expression that evaluates to the name of the regulator to seize. Release Regulator module DESCRIPTION The Release Regulator module is used to release tank regulators that have been allocated to an entity using the Seize Regulator module.
Description Attribute Name Name of the attribute that stores the name of the regulator to release. Expression Expression that evaluates to the name of the regulator to release. Data module Data modules are the set of objects in the spreadsheet view of the model that define the characteristics of various process elements, such as resources and queues.
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A Statistical Distributions Arena contains a set of built-in functions for generating random numbers from the commonly used probability distributions. These distributions appear on pull-down menus in many Arena modules where they’re likely to be used. They also match the distributions in the Arena Input Analyzer. This appendix describes all of the Arena distributions. Summary of Arena’s Probability Distributions Distribution Parameter Values Beta BETA Beta, Alpha Continuous CONT CumP1,Val1, . . .
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE To enter a distribution in an Arena field, you type the name of the distribution (or its fourletter abbreviation) followed by its parameters enclosed in parentheses. You may use spaces around punctuation to help read the distribution. A few examples appear below. UNIF( 3.5, 6 ) Uniform distribution with a minimum value of 3.5, a maximum value of 6 NORMAL( 83, 12.8 ) Normal distribution with a mean of 83, a standard deviation of 12.8 DISCRETE( 0.3,50, 0.75,80, 1.
• • • • • A • STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS Beta(β, α)BETA(Beta, Alpha) β–1 Probability Density Function f(x) = α–1 x-------------------------------------(1 – x) for 0 < x < 1 B (β,α) 0 otherwise B ( β, α ) = Parameters Range Mean Variance Applications 1 β–1 ∫0 t (1 – t) α–1 A • Statistical Distributions where β is the complete beta function given by dt Shape parameters Beta (β) and Alpha (α) specified as positive real numbers.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE ContinuousCONTINUOUS(CumP1, Val1, . . ., CumPn, Valn) (c1, x1,. . ., cn,xn) Probability Density Function Cumulative Distribution Function f(x) = Parameters c1 if x = x1 (a mass of probability c1 at x1) cj – cj-1 if xj-1 ≤ x < xj, for j = 2, 3, . . ., n 0 if x < x1 or x ≥ xn The CONTINUOUS function in Arena returns a sample from a user-defined distribution. Pairs of cumulative probabilities cj (= CumPj) and associated values xj (= Valj) are specified.
• • • • • A • STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS with probability cj – cj–1; given that it is in this interval, it will be distributed uniformly over it. As an example use of the CONTINUOUS function, suppose you have collected a set of data x1, x2, . . ., xn (assumed to be sorted into increasing order) on service times, for example.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE DiscreteDISCRETE(CumP1, Val1, . . ., CumPn, Valn) (c1, x1, . . ., cn, xn) Probability Mass Function p(xj) = cj – cj-1 where c0 = 0 Cumulative Distribution Function Parameters Range Applications 116 The DISCRETE function in Arena returns a sample from a user-defined discrete probability distribution. The distribution is defined by the set of n possible discrete values (denoted by x1, x2, . . .
• • • • • A • STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS Erlang(β, k)ERLANG(ExpMean, k) or ERLA(ExpMean, k) Probability Density Function –k k – 1 –x ⁄ β f(x) = β x e --------------------------------( k – 1 )! Parameters Range Mean Variance Applications otherwise If X1, X2, . . . , Xk are independent, identically distributed exponential random variables, then the sum of these k samples has an Erlang-k distribution.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Exponential(β)EXPONENTIAL(Mean) or EXPO(Mean) Probability Density Function f(x) = --1- e –x ⁄ β β 0 Parameters Range Mean Variance Applications for x > 0 otherwise The mean (β) specified as a positive real number. [0, + ∞ ) β β2 This distribution is often used to model inter-event times in random arrival and breakdown processes, but it is generally inappropriate for modeling process delay times.
• • • • • A • STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS Gamma(β, α)GAMMA(Beta, Alpha) or GAMM(Beta, Alpha) Probability Density Function f(x) = –α xα – 1 e–x ⁄ β β ---------------------------------Γ(α ) otherwise A • Statistical Distributions 0 for x > 0 where Γ is the complete gamma function given by Γ(α ) = Parameters Range Mean Variance Applications ∞ α – 1 –1 e dt ∫0 t Shape parameter (α) and scale parameter (β) specified as positive real values.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE JohnsonJOHNSON(Gamma, Delta, Lambda, Xi) or JOHN(Gamma, Delta, Lambda, Xi) Probability Density Function Unbounded Family Parameters Range Applications 120 Bounded Family Gamma shape parameter (γ), Delta shape parameter (δ > 0), Lambda scale parameter (λ), and Xi location parameter (ξ). (− ∞, + ∞ ) Unbounded Family [ξ, ξ + λ] Bounded Family The flexibility of the Johnson distribution allows it to fit many data sets.
• • • • • A • STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS Lognormal(μ, σ)LOGNORMAL(LogMean, LogStd) or LOGN(LogMean, LogStd) Denote the user-specified input parameters as LogMean = μl and LogStd = σl .
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE lognormal random variable X, but rather the mean and standard deviation of the normal random variable lnX.
• • • • • A • STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS Normal(μ, σ)NORMAL(Mean, StdDev) or NORM(Mean, StdDev) Probability Density Function Range Mean Variance Applications 1 σ 2π e −( x − μ ) 2 /( 2σ 2 ) for all real x The mean (μ) specified as a real number and standard deviation (σ) specified as a positive real number. (− ∞, + ∞ ) μ σ2 The normal distribution is used in situations in which the central limit theorem applies; i.e., quantities that are sums of other quantities.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Poisson(λ)POISSON(Mean) or POIS(Mean) Probability Mass Function –λ x p(x)= e------------λ for xε {0, 1, ...} x! 0 Parameters Range 124 The mean (λ) specified as a positive real number. {0, 1, . . .} Mean λ Variance λ Applications otherwise The Poisson distribution is a discrete distribution that is often used to model the number of random events occurring in a fixed interval of time.
• • • • • A • STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS Triangular(a, m, b)TRIANGULAR(Min, Mode, Max) or TRIA(Min, Mode, Max) Probability Density Function f(x) x a m b 2( x – a) ---------------------------------(m – a)(b – a) f(x) = 2(b – x) ---------------------------------(b – m )( b – a ) 0 Parameters Range Mean Variance Applications A • Statistical Distributions 0 for a ≤ x ≤ m for m ≤ x ≤ b otherwise The minimum (a), mode (m), and maximum (b) values for the distribution specified as real numbers w
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Uniform(a, b)UNIFORM(Min, Max) or UNIF(Min, Max) Probability Density Function f(x) 1 b-a 0 f(x) = 1 ----------b–a 0 Parameters Range Mean Variance Applications 126 b a x for a ≤ x ≤ b otherwise The minimum (a) and maximum (b) values for the distribution specified as real numbers with a < b. [a, b] (a + b)/2 (b – a)2/12 The uniform distribution is used when all values over a finite range are considered to be equally likely.
• • • • • A • STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS Weibull(β, α)WEIBULL(Beta, Alpha) or WEIB(Beta, Alpha) Probability Density Function f(x) a=1/2 a=1 a=2 A • Statistical Distributions a=3 x 0 f(x) = aβ – a x a – 1 e – ( x ⁄ β ) 0 Parameters for x > 0 otherwise Shape parameter (α) and scale parameter (β) specified as positive real values. Range [0, + ∞ ) Mean β --- Γ ⎛ 1--- ⎞ a ⎝ a⎠ 2 Variance a , where Γ is the complete gamma function (see gamma distribution).
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Applications 128 The Weibull distribution is widely used in reliability models to represent the lifetime of a device. If a system consists of a large number of parts that fail independently, and if the system fails when any single part fails, then the time between successive failures can be approximated by the Weibull distribution. This distribution is also used to represent nonnegative task times that are skewed to the left.
B Library Shapes and Symbols Arena .plb picture files Arena’s picture libraries (*.plb files) contain images that you may use for entity, resource, and global pictures. You can use the images in these libraries for any of these three types of picture animation. You also can copy these pictures into your own libraries, draw new pictures in Arena’s picture editor, or add pictures from the Arena Symbol Factory to any .plb file.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Arena .plb libraries The list of standard Arena picture libraries includes: Buldings.plb Equipment.plb Faces.plb Factory.plb General.plb Machines.plb Medical.plb Objects.plb Office.plb Office Equipment.plb People.plb Symbols.plb Vehicles.plb Workers.plb Common shapes may be placed from any of these categories, or they may be added from the Arena Symbol Factory or other image source by pasting from your Clipboard into a specific library.
• • • • • B • LIBRARY SHAPES AND SYMBOLS B • Shapes and Symbols The basic operation of Symbol Factory simply requires you to select an object from a category list, click Edit > Copy, and then paste the symbol into your picture editor window or the Arena application window (for static shapes). Details on the Arena Symbol Factory can be found in the extensive online help embedded in the application. You must have suitable license activation to use the full Symbol Factory capabilities.
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C Using Visio and Arena Introduction Since the mid-1980s, Business Process Improvement (BPI) and simulation have become leading methodologies to allow corporations to deliver high-quality products and services through business process modeling. Businesses are seeking not simply to automate existing operations, but to improve and redesign business processes to meet and exceed customers’ expectations for the delivery of products and services.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE To begin a drawing, browse to the Process Simulation template, which the Process Simulator installs in the Program Files\Rockwell Software\Arena\Visio folder. This dialog box typically appears when you first start Visio, or you can bring it up via the File > New > Choose Drawing Type > Browse Templates menu.
• • • • • C • USING VISIO AND ARENA Place and connect shapes You can change the Visio page layout or size via the File > Page Setup menu. For many process maps, a Standard page size and Landscape orientation work To define the process flow portion of your model, drag and drop flowchart shapes (e.g., Create, Process, Dispose) from the Process Simulation stencil into your drawing, just as you would with other standard Visio stencils.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Enter custom properties When you place shapes from the Process Simulation stencil, default names appear (e.g., Create 1, Process 1) to identify the steps in the process flow. Typically, you’ll replace these names with descriptions of the process steps. To do so, simply select the shape and type the new name, as with other standard Visio shapes.
• • • • • C • USING VISIO AND ARENA The property values that you define via the custom dialog boxes are stored with the individual shapes. When you transfer the process map to Arena, these parameters are used for simulation. Add data shapes To define the data modules (e.g., Entity, Resource) for the model of your process, you place shapes directly in the drawing for each of the elements you want to define.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE If multiple problems are detected, each will be listed with a description and, in the case of invalid or missing properties, the field and value that are improper are listed. To correct the errors in your drawing, you can use the buttons at the bottom of the dialog box. For errors in shape properties, click the Edit Properties button, which displays the shape’s dialog box, to correct the data.
• • • • • C • USING VISIO AND ARENA process map into an Arena simulation model. When the process is complete, you have an Arena model containing modules from the Basic Process panel that mirror the shapes you used from the Visio Process Simulation stencil, including the properties and connections you specified in Visio. In Arena, you can set the simulation run length on the Run > Setup page.
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE throughout your organization so that everyone who has an interest in the process definition can access it directly through Visio. With this approach, process maps can be created and shared throughout the organization on any desktop with a Visio license. When simulation and animation are needed to visualize and analyze the behavior of the process, the drawings can be transferred to systems with the Arena software.
Index Numerics 2-way chance 34 2-way condition 34 A B Basic Process panel 7 Assign module 11, 37 Batch module 11, 35 Create module 11, 29 Decide module 11, 34 Dispose module 11, 30 Entity module 40 Process module 11, 31 Queue module 41 Record module 11, 38 Resource module 42 Schedule module 44 Separate module 11, 36 Set module 46 Variable module 43 Index Access module 81 Activate module 85 ActiveX support 133 Activity Area module 99 adding plots to the model 2
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Batch module 35 Beta distribution 111, 113 business process modeling 133 C Calendar Exceptions 49 Calendar States 50 chart 7 collecting statistics 38 Continuous 114 Continuous empirical distribution 111, 114 Convey module 82 conveyor definition for entity movement 94 distance between stations 95 flowchart modules 81 movement 81 status 84 Conveyor module 94 counter sets 46 Create module 7, 29 creation of entities 29 Customer Support Center
Flow module 104 Flow Process panel Flow module 104 Regulate module 106 Regulator Set module 109 Release Regulator module 108 Seize Regulator module 107 Sensor module 103 Tank module 101 flowchart modules 11, 29 flowchart objects 11 flowchart view 6 Free module 87 G Gamma distribution 111, 119 Glue to Guides 24 grid 9 grouping within the model 35 guides 24 H Halt module 87 Hold module 52 J Johnson distribution 111, 120 L Leave module 75 Lognormal distribution
• • • • • ARENA USER’S GUIDE Request module 89 resource constraints seizing and releasing 31 Resource module 17, 42 resource sets 46 resource states 42 resources defining states 69 definition 42 failures 42 releasing units previously seized schedule definition 44 Route module 79 rulers 24 running the simulation 26 Store module 63 T S sample models 2 saving your model 18 Schedule module 44 Search module 61 Segment module 95 Seize module 59 Seize Regulator module
