Hello,
So I'm relatively new to FlexSim and I've been trying to design a program that tries to simulate a transformative industrial process that has three main stages. The first one is the preprocess area, that basically use fixed resources, an operator, and a crane to process and storage items of 4 different types in three different racks and a floor storage, and these flow items are then pushed to a list. The second stage is the kit assembly area, in which whenever any of the 4 working stations (third stage) is finished processing or at time 0, a pick request for items type 1, 2, 3 and 4 is requested. Types 1, 2 and 3 are pulled from their respective storage places by the kit assembly operator to its "table", and with those three items the operator is able to build the kit, which is then separated into 4 kits for security stock in each working station and then sent on a conveyor to the requesting working station, that's why it has 4 branches. The Type 4 item is supposed to be heavy, so it is taken directly to the requesting working station by the crane. The third stage is, as I already mentioned, the working area, where 4 working stations with an operator are fed with the 4 kits and the type 4 items so when the processor is done the final product is collected by the crane and then taken away by the transporter. Each working station requests a type 4 item every time a new process has to be done, and a kit when they run out of security stock (4 kits). So the thing is, I've only been able to implement the logic for only one working working station, because I'm having trouble trying to coordinate the 4 working stations and the requests they make, mostly because of the conveyor and crane and what branch or queue to send the 4 kits and the type 4 item.
I was thinking of creating four different event triggered sources for each processor associated with the process finish event, and then using a variable block and resource block in process flow so the request tokens created by each trigger source defines a different value to the variable, this value would be used in the unload action for Type 4 item in process flow and the "send item to" space in the kit moving conveyor decision point. The resource is used so the value assigned to the variable isn't changed until the 4 kits are already on its way to the requesting station and the Type 4 item is already delivered at the station queue. The problem is apparently I can't use a process flow variable in a decision point to send by case, and the implementation itself is kind of messy.
I know the whole design could be kind of confusing but if you run it and observe each process you'll get it easily, it is probably not the most efficient way to approach the logic but I did what I could with my limited knowledge. I don't know how to use FlexScript so I would appreciate if there is something that could be done in Process Flow. However, any recommendation would be immensely appreciated and if you have any questions about the design I'd be happy to help.
Thanks!
Preliminary_model.fsm
