How to assign operator to a queue until it is empty?

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Korbinian H asked Aug 29, '17 Korbinian H commented Sep 6, '17

How to assign operator to a queue until it is empty?

My model represents a job shop, with 6 workers, 6 queues connected to 2 processors each.

My aim is, to push the queue length to a list, pick an operator to select the longest queue and process the items until the queue is empty.
Also a queue is connected to 2 processors, in order to work with 2 operators in case of heavy workload in that workcenter at the same time.

How can I implement this in process flow, i was thinking of a conditional decide, but i don't know how to write the logic for this 2 problems.

Thanks in advance :)
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process flow operator assignment queue strategy

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Answer 1 · 2017-09-01T09:42:25Z

Korbinian H answered Sep 1, '17 Korbinian H commented Sep 6, '17

Finally I have found a solution, as I use the "Pull from list" like a decide button.
First I implemented a "pull from list" for items from the same queue, if no items are available, i use the MaxWaitTimer to send the token to the next "pull", with a query for the longest queue. Just if someone is interested in my monologue, here is my model solution-longestqueue.fsm

solution-longestqueue.fsm (176.1 KiB)

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Jeff Nordgren commented · Sep 01, 2017 at 04:26 PM

@Korbinian H

I am interested in how you solved this problem. I've been working on it as well and I think I'm getting close but wasn't quite there yet. So I'm going to look at your solution to see if we were on the same track.

But I'm glad that you did find a solution that works for you. I've been meaning to let you know that I was working on it as well so that you didn't feel like you were being ignored. Again, happy that you solved it.

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Jeff Nordgren commented · Sep 01, 2017 at 04:42 PM

@Korbinian H

I think we were going down somewhat different paths. Attached is my model to that point that I got to. Maybe you can get something from it, maybe not. But if you're curious, here it is.

help2908-jn1.fsm

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help2908-jn1.fsm (41.2 KiB)

Korbinian H Jeff Nordgren commented · Sep 03, 2017 at 03:40 PM

Thank you for your feedback, especially for your model. It helps me a lot in getting to know Flexsim, especially to see different approaches and use of code&queries.
I didn't feel ignored, it just felt awkward to explain my own solution without any comments in between :D
I also tried to solve the problem with implementing a label to show other operators that a certain queue is in use, but I couldn't solve the issue of 2 operators pulling from the queue at the same time, so i went into another direction with my current model.

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Jeff Nordgren Korbinian H commented · Sep 04, 2017 at 03:41 AM

@Korbinian H

OK, I've worked a little more on this and here is the model that I've come up with. It seems to do everything in your original question with the exception of adding possible additional operators to a single queue. I'm not sure how you wanted that to work and it wasn't described, so I left that part alone.

In the attached model, an operator will stay at a queue until all the contents of that queue are processed. Then (for visuals only) I have them travel to the OpHomeQ object so that you can see which operators are available for a "New" pull from the List. Once the queues get backed up will several flowitems, all the operators pretty much stay at the queues they are working on.

There were a few changes from the last model I sent. The main one though was to put the assignment of an operator after a "New" pull and not before. I found out this was the problem with not getting the operators to finish processing what was in their "assigned" queue. A few other small changes but that was the big one that seemed to make things work right.

Take a look at the model and see if this is what you had in mind. If you have any questions or problems, please let me know.

Thanks.

help2908-jn2.fsm

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help2908-jn2.fsm (43.5 KiB)

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