Simulation & Modelling Lab 01

LAB 01
OBJECTIVE: To create an Arena model using flow chat modules and
observe the results of the simulation run.

THEORY: Simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world

process or system over time. The act of simulating something first requires
that a model be developed; this model represents the key characteristics,
behaviors and functions of the selected physical or abstract system or
process. The model represents the system itself, whereas the simulation
represents the operation of the system over time.

Modeling is a way to create a virtual representation of a real-world system

that includes software and hardware.

Computer simulation the use of a computer to represent

the dynamic responses of one system by the behavior of another system
modeled after it. A simulation uses a mathematical description, or model, of
a real system in the form of a computer program. This model is composed of
equations that duplicate the functional relationships within the real system.
When the program is run, the resulting mathematical dynamics form
an analog of the behavior of the real system, with the results presented in
the form of data. A simulation can also take the form of a computer-graphics
image that represents dynamic processes in an animated sequence.

Examples of simulation

• Automobiles

• Biomechanics

• Communication satellites

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• Economics

• Engineering, technology, and processes

• Finance

• Flight

• Marine

• Military

• Project management

• Robotics

• Production

Factors or Components of simulation model

Entity: An entity is something that exists as itself, as a subject or as an

object, actually or potentially, concretely or abstractly, physically or not. It
need not be of material existence. In particular, abstractions and legal
fictions are usually regarded as entities.

Attribute: An attribute is a quality or characteristic of a person, place or

thing.

Variables: Piece of information that reflect some characteristic /piece of

information

that define attributes.

Built-in Variables: No. of busy resources and simulation time.

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User Define Variables: No of objects in system.

Resource: Represent a group of several individual servers each of which is

called a unit.

Event: Arrivals ,Departure ,Wait.

Simulation Clock: The current value of time in the simulation.

Queuing System: A queue management system is used to control queues.

Queues of people form in various situations and locations in a queue
area. A queuing system is described as

• Its calling a population

• Nature of arrivals

• Service mechanisms

• System capacity

• Queuing disciple

E.g: Take away meal service (KFC)

Billing system (Bank)

M/M/1 Queue Model: Represent a queue length in a system having a single

server, where arrivals are determine by a Poisson process and job service
times have an exponential distribution

• Arrivals occur at rate λ according to a Poisson process and move the

process from state i to i+1.

• Service times have an exponential distribution with parameter μ.

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Arena is a discrete event simulation and automation software developed by

Systems Modeling and acquired by Rockwell Automation in 2000.[1] It uses
the SIMAN processor and simulation language. As of Dec 2016, it is in
version 15, providing significant enhancements in optimization, animation
and inclusion of 64bit operation for modeling processes with 'Big Data'.

In Arena, the user builds an experiment model by placing modules (boxes of

different shapes) that represent processes or logic. Connector lines are used
to join these modules together and to specify the flow of entities. While
modules have specific actions relative to entities, flow, and timing, the
precise representation of each module and entity relative to real-life objects
is subject to the modeler. Statistical data, such as cycle time and WIP (work
in process) levels, can be recorded and made output as reports.

Arena can be integrated with Microsoft technologies. It includes Visual Basic

for Applications so models can be further automated if specific algorithms
are needed. It also supports importing Microsoft Visio flowcharts, as well as
reading from or sending output to Excel spreadsheets
and Access databases.

Arena modules

Flow Chart: Create, separate ,process ,assign ,dispose ,record

Data object Model: Entity, queue, resource ,set ,variable and schedule

Create Module:

Description:

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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. Entities then leave the module to begin processing through the
system. The entity type is specified in this module.

PROMPT:

Prompt Description:

Name— Unique module identifier. This name is displayed on the module

shape.

Entity Type— Name of the entity type to be generated.

Type— Type of arrival stream to be generated. Types include: Random (uses

an Exponential distribution, user specifies mean), Schedule (uses an
Exponential distribution, mean determined from the specified Schedule
module), Constant (user specifies constant value, e.g., 100),
or Expression (pull down list of various distributions).

Value— Determines the mean of the exponential distribution (if Random is

used) or the constant value (if Constant is used) for the time between
arrivals. Applies only when Type is Random or Constant.

Schedule Name— Identifies the name of the schedule to be used. The

schedule defines the arrival pattern for entities arriving to the system.
Applies only when Type is Schedule.

Expression— Any distribution or value specifying the time between arrivals.

Applies only when Type is Expression.

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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 arrivals that this module will generate.
When this value is reached, the creation of new arrivals by this module
ceases.

First Creation— Starting time for the first entity to arrive into the system.
Does not apply when Type is Schedule.

Process Module:

Description:

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. The
associated cost will be added to the appropriate category.

PROMPT:

Prompt Description:

Name—Unique module identifier. This name is displayed on the module

shape.

Type—Method of specifying logic within the module. Standard processing

signifies that all logic will be stored within the Process module and defined
by a particular Action. Submodel indicates that the logic will be hierarchically
defined in a "submodel" that can include any number of logic modules.

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Action—Type of processing that will occur within the module. Delay simply
indicates that a process delay will be incurred with no resource
constraints. Seize Delay indicates that a resource(s) will be allocated in this
module and a delay will occur, but that resource release will occur at a later
time. Seize Delay Release indicates that a resource(s) will be allocated
followed by a process delay and then the allocated resource(s) will be
released. Delay Release indicates that a resource(s) has previously been
allocated and that the entity will simply delay and release the specified
resource(s). Applies only when Type is Standard.

Priority—Priority value of the entity waiting at this module for the specified
resource(s). Used when one or more entities from other modules are
waiting for the same resource(s). Does not apply when Action
is Delay or Delay Release, or when Type is Submodel.

Resources—Lists the resources or resource sets used for entity processing.

Does not apply when Action is Delay, or when Type is Submodel.

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. Applies only when Type is Set.

Units to Seize/Release—Number of resource units of a given name or from a

given set that will be seized/released. For sets, this value specifies only the
number of a selected resource that will be seized/released (based on the
resource’s capacity), not the number of members of a set to be
seized/released.

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Selection Rule—Method of selecting among available resources in a

set. Cyclical will cycle through available members (1st member-2nd
member-3rd member-1st member-2nd member-3rd member). Random will
randomly select a member. Preferred Order will always select the first
available member (1st member if available, then 2nd member if available,
then 3rd member). Specific Member requires an input attribute value to
specify which member of the set (previously saved in the Save
Attribute field). Largest Remaining Capacity and Smallest Number Busy are
used for resources with multiple capacity. Applies only when Type is Set.

Save Attribute—Attribute name used to store the index number into the set
of the member that is chosen. This attribute can later be referenced with
the Specific Member selection rule. Applies only when Selection Rule is
other than Specific Member. Does not apply when Selection Rule is Specific
Member. If Action is specified as Delay Release, the value specified defines
which member (the index number) of the set to be released. If no attribute
is specified, the entity will release the member of the set that
was last seized

Set Index—The index number into the set of the member requested. Applies
only when Selection Rule is Specific Member. If Action is specified as Delay
Release, the value specified defines which member (the index number) of
the set is to be released.

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 . The process may be considered to be value added,

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non-value added, transfer, wait or other and the associated cost will be
added to the appropriate category for the entity and process.

Minimum—Parameter field for specifying the minimum value for either a

Uniform or Triangular distribution.

Value—Parameter field for specifying the mean for a Normal distribution,

the value for a Constant time delay, or the mode for a Triangular
distribution.

Maximum—Parameter field for specifying the maximum value for either a

Uniform or Triangular distribution.

Std Dev—Parameter field for specifying the standard deviation for a Normal
distribution.

Expression—Parameter field for specifying an expression whose value is

evaluated and used for the processing time delay.

Report Statistics— Specifies whether or not statistics will automatically be

collected and stored in the report database for this process.

Dispose Module:

Description:

This module is intended as the ending point for entities in a simulation

model. Entity statistics may be recorded before the entity is disposed.

PROMPT:

Prompt Description:

Name—Unique module identifier. This name is displayed on the module

shape.

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Record Entity Statistics—Determines whether or not the incoming entity’s

statistics will be recorded. Statistics include value added time, non-value
added time, wait time, transfer time, other time, total time, value added
cost, non-value added cost, wait cost, transfer cost, other cost, and total
cost.

LAB TASK: Observe the report and fill performance measurement table
(PMT)

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REPORT :

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Entity :

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Queue :

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Resource :

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PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT TABLE (PMT):

PERFORMANCE MEASURES Where to look in Arena Report Result
Total production Entity no out 1000
Average delay in queue Queue Waiting Time – Average 0.07230
Maximum delay in queue Queue Waiting Time – Max Val 0.4734
Average time in system Entity Total Time – Average 0.1279
Maximum time in system Entity Total Time – Max Val 0.5211
Time-avg no of parts in queue Queue Number Waiting – 0.9198
Average
Maximum no of parts in queue Queue No Waiting – Max Val 9.0000
Machine Utilization Resource Utilization 0.7071

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