P429 Operations Process
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel
and Computer Simulation
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Announcements
• Lowest scores dropped:
 In-class quizzes – I will drop lowest 2 scores
 Cases – I will drop lowest 1 score
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Coming up…
• Tuesday (11/6):
 No Class
 Assignment: prepare “Draft Project Plan”
• Thursday (11/8):
 I will meet in class with each team to discuss the project proposals
• Tuesday (11/6):
 Continue working on videos and project in class
 “Draft Project Plan” due at 11:00pm
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Final Project Guidelines (project due Tue Dec 4 at 9:30am)
• See the Term Project Guidelines posted on Canvas
Objectives
• Apply the principles of Operation Processes to real
business situations
• Solidify the computer simulation skills and put them into
practice
• Reinforce business problem analysis skills
• Enhance teamwork skills
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Final Project Guidelines (project due Tue Dec 4 at 9:30am)
Deliverables (to submit on Canvas):
1) Term project report (paper)
2) Promodel file(s)
3) Data collection (Excel file)
4) Presentation (PPT file)
Hints:
• Contact the company early!
• Choose systems with high variability (purpose of simulation tools)
• Simulate the system before and after your recommendation
• Go over all our class slides to get ideas for system improvements!
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Final Project Guidelines (project due Tue Dec 4 at 9:30am)
• Check out the data collection template (Excel file on
Canvas)
• It will help you with your data collection plan
Data Collecting Example: ATM
Customer # Arrival time batch size Inter-arrival time Inter-arrival time (secs) Time to start Using ATM Departure Time Service time Service time (secs)
1
11:01:50
2.00
11:02:00
11:03:15
0:01:15
75
2
11:03:50
3.00
0:02:00
120
11:03:50
11:05:20
0:01:30
90
3
11:05:10
3.00
0:01:20
80
11:05:20
11:06:13
0:00:53
53
4
11:06:28
3.00
0:01:18
78
11:06:28
11:07:05
0:00:37
37
5
11:06:57
4.00
0:00:29
29
11:07:05
11:08:01
0:00:56
56
6
11:07:49
3.00
0:00:52
52
11:08:01
11:09:20
0:01:19
69
7
11:09:08
3.00
0:01:19
79
11:09:20
11:09:51
0:00:31
31
8
11:10:02
6.00
0:00:54
54
11:10:02
11:12:18
0:02:16
136
9
11:10:49
4.00
0:00:47
47
11:12:18
11:13:19
0:01:01
61
10
11:12:10
5.00
0:01:21
81
11:13:19
11:14:01
0:00:42
42
11
11:14:15
6.00
0:02:05
125
11:14:15
11:15:29
0:01:14
74
12
11:14:28
3.00
0:00:13
13
11:15:29
11:16:01
0:00:32
32
13
11:15:09
4.00
0:00:41
41
11:16:01
11:17:18
0:01:17
77
14
11:15:58
4.00
0:00:49
49
11:17:18
11:18:50
0:01:32
92
15
11:16:30
3.00
0:00:32
32
11:18:50
11:19:31
0:00:41
41
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Draft Project Plan (due on Tue 11/13 by 11pm)
• No more than 2 pages double spaced
• Should include the following:
1) A brief background/description of the business you intend to
analyze
2) A description of the data you wish to collect, how you will collect
it, and how it will be used in your project
3) A discussion of what problems you expect to find
4) A preliminary estimate of what solutions to the identified
problems you think you might propose
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Project Presentations (Tuesday Dec 4)
• Format: 5 minute “elevator pitch”
• You will be able to use in total 4 slides which should include:
Slide 1) a summary of your project idea
Slides 2-3) a description of your model (can include a screenshot of
your Promodel or a process flow diagram)
Slide 3) your main results and recommendations for the firm
• Since you only have 5 minutes to present, conciseness and clarity
are key.
Simulation quick start guide
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
ProModel Basics
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
entity arrivals
L
E
L
L
entity exits
L
EXIT
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Fundamental ProModel Elements
entity arrivals

LOCATIONS

ENTITIES

ARRIVALS
L
E
L
L

PROCESSING
entity exits
• Activity + Control
L
EXIT
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
How to Create ProModel Elements
• ProModel uses a graphical approach
• Each element has a GRAPHICS TOOLBOX
• By clicking on the GRAPHIC, and then clicking on the
LAYOUT, you create an element
• Each element you create has a table record
associated with it
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Define Locations
• Locations represent fixed places in the system where entities are
routed for processing, storage, or some other activity or decision
making.
 Click Build/Locations
 Left click on the desired location icon in the graphics tool box,
then left click in the layout window where you want the location
to appear.
 A record is automatically created for the location in the
Locations edit table.
 The name, units, capacity, etc., can now be changed by clicking
in the appropriate box and typing in the desired changes.
 For conveyor/Queue, left click the beginning point and right click
the ending point. Edit the graph by changing conveyor into
queue.
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Build Menu
Locations
Edit Table
L
L
Locations
Graphics
Toolbox
L
L
Layout
Window
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Define Entities
• Entities: Anything that a model processes is called an
‘entity’. Some examples include parts, products, people or
even paperwork.
 Choose Build/Entities
 Left click on the desired entity graphic (circuit board,
customer, etc.) in the Entity Graphics tool box.
 A record will automatically be created in the Entity edit
table.
 The name can then be changed and the size of the
entity can be adjusted by moving the slide bar in the
tool box.
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Entity
Edit Table
•L
•E
Entity
•L Graphics
Toolbox
•L
•L
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Define Arrivals
• Arrivals: Any time new entities are introduced into the
system, it is called an arrival.


(Build/Arrivals) Left click on the entity name in the Arrivals tool
box, and left click on the location in the Layout Window where
you would like entities to arrive.
In the Arrivals edit window choose:
Entity: The arriving entity.
Location: The location at which the entity will arrive.
Qty Each: The number of entities (in a group) that will arrive at
the specified time.
First Time: The first time (in simulation clock time) that the
arrival pattern will start.
Occurrences: The number of times entity groups will arrive.
Frequency (Inter-arrival time): The time between occurrences.
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Arrivals
Edit Table
•entity arrivals
L
L
L
L
E
Arrivals
Toolbox
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Define Processing
• Processing: Processing describes the operations that take place at a
location, such as the amount of time an entity spends there, the
resources it needs to complete processing, and anything else that
happens at the location, including selecting an entity’s next
destination.
 Left click on the entity name in the tool bar and then left click on
the desired beginning location. Left click on the destination
location. A processing record will automatically be created.
 Operations: Type “WAIT 4 MIN” or “wait N(3,2)”
 To add more routing lines to the same record, left click on the
Add Routings button in the tool box.
 To route the part to exit, simply left click on the Route to Exit
button in the tool box.
• NOTE: All entities should have Route to Exit as part of their
processing
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
•entity arrivals
•L
•E
•L
•L
•entity exits
•L
•EXIT
Layout
Window
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Building Logic
Heading
Button
Build Button
Operation
Logic
Window
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Logic Builder
Parameter
Value
Expression
Builder
Logic
Parameter
Button
Units of
Paramter
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Expression Builder
Distribution
parameter
button
Parameter
Value
Distribution
Functions
Select
Which
Distribution
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
RUNNING THE SIMULATION
• From the “Simulation”
dropdown menu select
“Options”
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
RUNNING THE SIMULATION
• Select Run Time (in hours
unless otherwise stated).
This is how long you want
to run your simulation.
• Select Replications. This is
the number of times you
want to repeat the
simulation. More
replications = better
accuracy
• Disable Animation if you
want the simulation to run
faster.
Replications
Run Time
Disable
Animation
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Shortcuts to Running the Simulation
•
•
•
•
•
F12 to save the model
F10 to run the model
Simulation/Run
Simulation/Save and Run
You can NOT run the simulation if your stats window is still active!
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Class 21 Introduction to Promodel and Computer Simulation
Let’s start!
• Find videos on Canvas: Kaltura Media Gallery
• Download base models from Canvas: Files  Classes 21-23
Video 1: Class 21 – Introduction to Computer Simulation
• First 13 minutes  Intro to Promodel
• Next 47 minutes  First three models:
1) ATM Model: M/M/1
2) San Dimas Electronics: 1 entity, multiple locations
3) Pomona: multiple entity types