How do you acquire and utilize more than 1 operator using Process Flow?

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Michael O'Connell asked Jan 30, '17 Jacob Gillespie converted comment to answer Jan 31, '17

How do you acquire and utilize more than 1 operator using Process Flow?

How would you grab more than 1 resource for a Delay activity?

I'm trying to acquire 2 resources from one of 2 groups and then use both in a Delay activity is a Busy state. In the attached model, the Acquire step grabs 2 operators and assigns them to the token resource label (array size = 2), but in the Delay activity, only one shows busy. The other remains idle.

Do I need to loop through the operators in the resource label array to get them both working? Run a subflow for each? Is there another way?

In the ultimate usage, the number of resource types, size of group/pool, and quantity required will vary based on scenario.

Version 16.1.0

Software Version:

FlexSim (other - please specify)

Software Version:

FlexSim (other)

process flow multiple operators

pf-preemption-3-alt.fsm (27.4 KiB)

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Jacob Gillespie ♦ commented · Jan 30, 2017 at 11:35 PM

@Michael O'Connell Do you want the two operators to carry one box together? or do you want them to carry one each?

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Michael O'Connell commented · Jan 31, 2017 at 12:22 AM

In the example model, it would be a team of 2 carrying a box. More broadly though, it's getting both/all to be in a specified state during an activity like the Delay. There will be cases where more than 1 operator will travel to a station just to do work, not necessarily transporting.

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-31T10:36:01Z

Mischa Spelt answered Jan 31, '17

The solution seems to be a Run Subflow, which can be pretty general if you use the "array size" option and pass in a resource to the subflow, as in the attached model.

I would suggest a change to the Task Executer activities in Process Flow though, allowing the resource to be an array, as it feels like that should work intuitively.

utilizetwooperators.fsm

utilizetwooperators.fsm (19.9 KiB)

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Michael O'Connell commented · Jan 31, 2017 at 02:13 PM

Thanks, Mischa. Figured that was where I had to go. Not a huge addition.

I agree with you about requesting a change in Process Flow activities to accommodate. I guess I was assuming that those activities would be capable of handling an array from Acquire. I'll look to submit as an improvement.

Thanks again.

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