Use a schedule for order picking

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question

Aditya Kamath asked Oct 18 2016 at 5:47 PM Kari Payton edited Apr 12 2017 at 6:42 PM

Use a schedule for order picking

I have a set of itemTypes being generated by a source and stored in a rack and I need to retrieve these items from the rack based on a schedule that I have stored in a Global Table like so. The 'ArrivalTime' field is measured as the number of seconds that have passed since the model start.

How can I retrieve them using this schedule and how can I record the on-time deliveries and the backorders? I have attached my model here: schedule-pull.fsm

Any help on this is greatly appreciated!

Software Version:

FlexSim 16.2.0

process flow global table picking schedule list back orders

1.png (22.4 KiB)

schedule-pull.fsm (19.0 KiB)

Answer 1 · 2016-10-18T19:21:29Z

Adrian Haws answered Oct 18 2016 at 7:21 PM Aditya Kamath commented Oct 19 2016 at 7:59 PM

Aditya,

This type of model is made simple with Process Flow. I've modified your model to show its implementation.

In your model, I created an Inter-Arrival Source in Process Flow and created boxes in the rack, with a label denoting their itemtype. These boxes are then pushed to a list. For the second part, there is a schedule source that uses the information from your global table to determine time of token creation, itemtype, name, and quantity. This is to simulate the orders. These orders then pull from the object list based on their itemtype.

As far as reporting statistics, it depends on what you want to display. I've just pinned a couple statistics from the list to display current content of the backorders, as well as staytime of the list for each token.

If any of this is unclear or you would like more information, just let us know.

schedule-pull-updated.fsm (28.5 KiB)

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Aditya Kamath commented · Oct 19 2016 at 5:08 PM

@Adrian Haws- Thank you for this solution! However, I wanted to ask you how I can modify this a bit. The parts in my 'Rack Warehouse' are already being generated by a different process that I haven't included in this model (it is a much larger process involving several 3d objects) which is why I don't want to generate those 12 ItemTypes using process flow as you have shown here. The second half of the process flow that you have developed i.e., retrieving items from the list is what I need. I tried replicating that in my model- made the warehouse push the items to a list and then used the second half of your process flow to retrieve items from the list using a transporter. However, this is not working. I suspect it is something to do with how the process flow is trying to search for the items in the list. I'm very close to the solution but your help is appreciated. Here is my model that I modified.

schedule-pull.fsm

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schedule-pull.fsm (26.6 KiB)

Adrian Haws commented · Oct 19 2016 at 5:46 PM

@Aditya Kamath You just need to make sure that the name of the "itemType" field in the list matches what you're using in the list query. Also make sure that the "Dynamic" box is checked in the list field. I also assigned the pulled item to "item" so that the transporter can reference it in the task sequence activities. See updated model.

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schedule-pull-2.fsm (26.7 KiB)

Aditya Kamath Adrian Haws commented · Oct 19 2016 at 7:59 PM

@Adrian Haws Worked like a charm and I integrated it with my larger model. Thanks so much!

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Answer 2 · 2016-10-18T19:14:57Z

Kari Payton answered Oct 18 2016 at 7:14 PM Aditya Kamath commented Oct 19 2016 at 5:11 PM

Hi @Aditya Kamath I hope this helps give you an idea of how to model the above scenario. You can try using a process flow to generate arrivals and retrieve items. In the model attached one source creates the items and stores them in the warehouse. The second source is based on the schedule you posted. This is only for A-1 items. You would have to create different sources for the different item types.

3165-schedule-pull-edited.fsm

The properties in the List will give you information on back-orders and entries. Double Click on "Item List" in the process flow and click "Entries" or "Backorders" to view the details.

3165-schedule-pull-edited.fsm (25.2 KiB)

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Answer 3 · 2017-04-12T15:02:45Z

Jitendra Kumar answered Apr 12 2017 at 3:02 PM Kari Payton edited Apr 12 2017 at 6:42 PM

Hi @Adrian Haws , @Kari Payton , @Aditya Kamath

I am also working on similar type of problem, instead of itemType as puller, I am using a string label (lbl_PART_COL_ID) as puller, but my transporter is not loading the items.I have attached my model here :pull-item-by-global-table-label-match2.fsm

Any help on this is greatly appreciated!

Jitendra

pull-item-by-global-table-label-match2.fsm (39.9 KiB)

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Kari Payton commented · Apr 12 2017 at 5:55 PM

@Jitendra Kumar you need to add the label to the table correctly. Go to the table properties -> fields -> add -> label. Now when you run the model you can see it in the entries field. Now in the processor you need to go to the properties -> Flow ->Input ->Pull Strategy. Under pull requirements you can pull a specific value from the label "lbl_PART_COL_ID". For Example...

You also need to connect your transporter as a centerobject to have it transport items.

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screenshot-35.png (16.4 KiB)

Jitendra Kumar Kari Payton commented · Apr 12 2017 at 6:22 PM

Thanks @Kari Payton I have connected it through process flow, can you please share the model ?

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Kari Payton Jitendra Kumar commented · Apr 12 2017 at 6:41 PM

ohhhh. I didn't notice that at first. On the source on your process flow, somehow you deleted the time column so the tokens are not being created. @Jitendra Kumar recreate the source the exact same way but don't delete the time column and it works.

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