¿How can I set up three processors to work as one, processing batches?

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Paúl Alejandro R asked Jun 16, '18 tannerp commented Jul 6, '18

¿How can I set up three processors to work as one, processing batches?

model-1.fsmI am building a model with three diferent itemtypes which are labeled with three diferent labels. I have a processor which is going to process those items in batches of ten unit each one. The process time is different acording the itemlabel and is taken from a Global Table "Process Time". The processors is representing an asset which can perform different activities, so I have three processors 1_1; 1_2 and 1_3, each of one represents an activitity.

First question: ¿How can the processor processes a 10-unit batch making up with only one itemtype? The processor needs to wait to have 10 units to start processing. It means the process time starts when the processor achieve 10 unit of the same itemtype.

Second Question: ¿How can I set up the three processors to work as one?. For instance, if the processor 1_1 is processing the other ones must be bloked, if the processor 1_2 is processing the other ones must be block, and the same for processor 1_3. However, if any processor finishes processing, the three processors must be available to start processing again, but not at the same time.

Software Version:

FlexSim 17.2.5

processor many processors working as one batch time

model-1.fsm (27.4 KiB)

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5 |100000

Attachments: Up to 12 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 23.8 MiB each and 47.7 MiB total.

tannerp commented · Jun 18, 2018 at 01:49 PM

Have you considered using Process Flow for your model?

Using the 3D model will likely require custom code, whereas Process Flow would allow you to control the 3 different assets using event triggers.

I'll look into a possible solution for your question.

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Paúl Alejandro R tannerp commented · Jun 18, 2018 at 01:54 PM

@Tanner P

Thank you for your time. It is not a problem to use process flow, but I really do not know how to do that. If you can help me I really appreciate that.

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Answer 1 · 2018-06-18T15:27:07Z

tannerp answered Jun 18, '18 tannerp commented Jul 6, '18

Here is an attached example of how to used Process Flow in your model.

This image will help explain how each part works.

We recommend learning Process Flow as this is the direction the software is taking from now going forward. If you need any help or clarifications on this specific question, let me know!

three-processors-model.fsm

three-processors-logic.png (137.8 KiB)

three-processors-model.fsm (45.7 KiB)

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5 |100000

Attachments: Up to 12 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 23.8 MiB each and 47.7 MiB total.

Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jun 18, 2018 at 11:26 PM

@Tanner Poulton

Thank you. It seems to work fine to process in batches. However, regarding to my second question the three processors are, for instance, a Tumbler. The Tumbler can defrost meat (asset 1-1), massage meat (asset 1-2) or emulsify leather (asset 1-3), but not at the same time. The item labeled 060001 must be defrosted, the item labeled 060002 must be massaged, and item labeled 060003 mus be emulsified. If item 060001 enters first to the tumbler, asset 1-2 and asset 1-3 are bloked. If item 060002 enters first asset 1-1 and asset 1-3 are bloked, and if item 060003 enters first asset 1-1 and 1-2 must be blocked. Each item uses the Tumbler for a specific function, so it only goes through one of the three assets.

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tannerp Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jun 19, 2018 at 01:35 PM

So, to clarify: An item only needs to go through one processor in order to be completed. The item type determines which processor to send the items to. Does that sound correct?

I can rearrange some of the logic so that it follows your description.

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tannerp commented · Jun 19, 2018 at 02:01 PM

@Paúl Alejandro R

I've redesigned the logic so that each item type will only go through one processor. Item label 060001, for example, will only be processed by Asset 1_1. I also realized that my logic was faulty for the items entering Queues, so I've fixed it so that there is no build up of boxes.

Here's a brief explanation of how we can use the Acquire event to "block" the other tokens/items:

Let me know if this helps!

three-processors-model-1.fsm

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three-processors-model-1.fsm (47.6 KiB)

three-processors-model-2.png (132.4 KiB)

Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jun 25, 2018 at 04:49 PM

@Tanner Poulton

Everything works perfectly, but now I don´t need to make the processors work as one. It means that I still want to send by batches of item types but this time to the first available processor not to an specific one. To clarify, each processor can process any item type but the size of the batch change based on the item type. How can I do that ?

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tannerp Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jun 25, 2018 at 05:24 PM

Would you like the process time to then change depending on what item type it is processing? For example, the green items are always processed for X amount of time, blues for Y amount of time, etc?

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tannerp Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jun 25, 2018 at 05:33 PM

Essentially what you can do to adjust it is reduce the number of available resources to one, then assign this resource to the "Processors" group. This way, whichever item acquires that specific asset will hold on to it until it's completed the process, then it will release the asset.

To change process time by item type, I believe you can do conditional process times in the Properties window of the Processors.

Here's some more info in picture format:

and this explains the new logic:

Let me know if this is helps you move in the right direction with your model.

three-processors-model-2.fsm

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three-processors-model-2.fsm (42.4 KiB)

three-processors-revised-logic.png (48.7 KiB)

three-processors-new-logic.png (39.6 KiB)

Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jul 02, 2018 at 08:23 PM

@Tanner Poulton Now I have another problem, I made the group but the processors don´t have the same capacity. Now I need to send the item to the first available processor in batches based on the capacity of each processor. How can I do that ?

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tannerp Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jul 03, 2018 at 02:44 PM

I'm not sure I understand how you'd like to send the items. If you'd like to change the processor capacity, you can do that in the processor properties under "Maximum Content" as shown in this picture:

Otherwise, you can change how many of each item type you would like in a batch by changing the following settings in your process flow (red arrows):

If you want to give me a bit more detail regarding how you'd like to batch the items now, I could probably give a more helpful answer. Thanks! Hope this helps!

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max-content-processor.png (26.3 KiB)

batch-number-change.png (19.7 KiB)

Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jul 04, 2018 at 06:11 PM

@Tanner Poulton. That´s the thing I still need to use the process flow to send by batches to each processor. Now the processors are a group, because i need to send to the first available processor, but the problem is that the maximum capacity of each processor isn´t the same, so the batches change acording to the processor that they are going to be send. For example if the item type 1 is going to the first asset it will be a batch of 10, but if it goes to the second asset it will be a batch of 5 items. So how can I do this using the processes flow. Send to the first abailable processor in batches acoording to the maximum capacity of each processor. Tell me if you need more details.

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tannerp Paúl Alejandro R commented · Jul 05, 2018 at 09:31 PM

@Paúl Alejandro R I'm happy to adjust the logic so that it fits those criteria. I'll try and have a model to you by tomorrow. I wanted to check and see if the process time will still be referenced by the Global Table or if they'll all have the same process time now?

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Paúl Alejandro R tannerp commented · Jul 06, 2018 at 02:31 PM

The process time are still referenced by global table, Thank you @Tanner Poulton

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