Combine items by type

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question

JoseVM asked May 28 2020 at 8:00 AM tannerp commented May 29 2020 at 5:00 PM

Combine items by type

Hello everybody,

I have a question related to Combiners. I have a model where I want to collect items in batches of maximum 25, but always batches with items with the same type. I have a delivery that is asking for 55 items of type A and 40 items of type B. How can I do to make the type respected? For example:

Batch 1: 25 (Type A)

Batch 2: 25 (Type A)

Batch 3: 5 (Type A)

Batch 4: 25 (Type B)

Batch 5: 15 (Type B)

Thanks in advance,

Software Version:

FlexSim 19.0.9

combiner flexsim 19.0.9 type

· 3

tannerp commented · May 28 2020 at 6:41 PM

One of the easiest ways is using labels to update the combiner's packing list. You can also use Process Flow and pull from a list.

If you have a model you can attach, please do so. Otherwise, feel free to comment back with information regarding how many inputs there are on the combiner and I'll do my best to come up with a sample model.

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JoseVM tannerp commented · May 28 2020 at 8:13 PM

Hello @tanner.p

First of all, thanks for your time. I will attach my model, although the real model is a little bit more complex than the example I asked, but the core is the same. I have 4 Types instead of 2 but I still want to collect them in groups of 25, but respecting the type (type = "Plancha" label). I also attach a photo with the problematic separator in order to show the problem.

Thanks in Advance,

José

Boxes_Splitting.fsm

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boxes-splitting.fsm (77.3 KiB)

question-splitting.png (611.8 KiB)

tannerp JoseVM commented · May 29 2020 at 5:00 PM

Like Jörg explained, the combiner works by collecting a specific number of items from each input port. The pallet (or first object to enter the Combiner through input port 1) is what can update the input list. The process that you've explained sounds like it's something you'll need to handle with Process Flow.

I set up 4 queues in front of your combiner that will sort the objects according to Plancha. This way, you can use a table to update the combiner list according to how many of each item type you need. In the updated model I've attached, you can set labels on the pallet that will update the packing list. This way, you can break up an order of 55 items of Type 1 to be two groups of 25 and one group of 5, like you described. Take a look at this model and let me know if you have any questions about how it works. I hope it helps you figure out a method to accomplish what you need to do using the combiner object.

combiner object help.fsm

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combiner-object-help.fsm (82.6 KiB)

Answer 1 · 2020-05-29T07:55:51Z

Joerg Vogel answered May 29 2020 at 7:55 AM

The combiner is a very specialized object, when it comes to assemble or batch products. A combination of items is NOT build through attributes on the items, it is built by an amount of items through input ports. You see often that there is a label involved like Type. But this attribute matters only in objects previous to the combiner, if those objects decide which attribute is responsible to send an item through an output port. This output port is connected to an combiners input port. AND this is the important fact - the INPUT PORT. In your case the separator must tell the source which pallet must be sent to the combiner to change the recipe. And further on the separator must send the items through the output port that matches with the input port of the recipe.

The mechanism to change recipes is called “Update Combiners Components List“. There are plenty of videos, answers to find on this subject. The keywords are just “combiner” and “flexsim”.

If you need a sequence of recipes like {25, 25, 5}, then your pallet will tell the combiner to exchange the recipe to batch accordingly. The first pallet has a label Type to choose the recipe for 25 items through input port 2. The next has got the same value in the label Type. The label of third pallet has got a value to choose a recipe to collect 5 items through input port 2.

Your duty will be to decide which recipe the pallet collects next in the combiner to get a total batch of 55 or 40 by the pallet item, which enters the combiner through input port 1. As you see i didn’t mention Type A or B, because that is not relevant for a combiner. What counts is only the amount, not a Type.

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