Simulation Software

J.Pemberton Cyrus, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Industrial Engineering
Dalhousie University

27 May 2004

pemberton.cyrus@dal.ca
 Agenda
 Why Simulation?
 How to do Simulation
 Advantages
 What’s New
 Examples of Software Packages

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 Why Simulation
 Understand the manufacturing system
 Inventory issues
 Capacity
 Flow
 Analyze the situation
 What is important?
 Why is it important?
 Create and test new ideas
 Quick and dirty analyses

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 How to do Simulation
 Investigate the situation – what is the question?
 Plan the project
 Collect data
 Build a conceptual model
 Fit distributions to data
 Validate
 Implement the model in software
 Verify
 Build many different solutions (answers)
 Test the solutions and choose the best answer

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 Some Simulation advantages
 Cheap
 Some open-source software available
 Some packages have entry-level pricing
 Expensive packages may be worth it
 Easy to do
 Specialization = ease
 Fast to complete
 Specialized packages are fastest
 Easy to communicate the solution
 Animation, custom reports and graphics

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 What’s new in software technology

 3D animation
 Ultra-realistic imaging
 Easy integration with popular languages
 C#, C++, VB, Access, VBA, Excel, Visio
 Optimization of designs (OptQuest)
 Automated output analysis
 Custom Reports (Crystal Reports)
 Automated input analysis (Stat::Fit, ExpertFit)
 Specialized modeling packages

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 3D Animation

FlexSim
AutoMod
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Arena
 Ultra-realism

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 Language integration
 Excel (reports)
 Access (data retrieval)
 VBA (integration with Office tools)
 VB
 C#
 C++
 Visio (process modeling)
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 Visio integration

 Build the process in

Visio
 Use the simulation
engine to evaluate
it
Witness
Arena
10 ProModel
 Design Optimization
 OptQuest can perform global
optimization, using the simulation
model as a function evaluator
 Specify simulation parameters,
objective, constraints
 OptQuest searches for a global
optimum by creating simulation models
and evaluating them

OptQuest
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 Automated Output Analysis
 Automated experiment design: Factor
analysis
 Models with varying parameters are
built automatically
 Results are compiled
 Multi-factor analysis is done
automatically
AutoMod
Arena
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FlexSim
 Custom Reporting
 The output is integrated with Crystal
Reports
 Customized reports can be built
quickly
 Output can also be sent to Excel for
further analysis
Crystal Reports
Arena
FlexSim
13 Witness
 Automated Input Analysis
 Data is collected
 Data is imported into ExpertFit or
Stat::Fit
 Probability distributions are
automatically fit to the data (family and
parameters)
 The distribution representations are
customized for the simulation package
ExpertFit
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Stat::Fit
 Specialized Modelers
 Computer Networks
 Call Centers
 Hospitals
 Work Flow
 Traffic Flow
 Manufacturing

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 Manufacturing Simulation Software

 Arena
 FlexSim
 Simul8
 AutoMod
 MicroSaint
 ProModel
 Witness
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 Arena

 Cheap to start
 2D animation
 3D post-animation
 Optimized model design
 Automated input analysis
 Integration with VB
 Specialized versions:
 Factory, contact center, packaging, flow process
 U$795 - C$25,000

 http://www.arenasimulation.com/

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 FlexSim
 3D animation, ultra-realistic
 Model in 3D
 Imports graphics files from CAD
 C++ integration, access, excel
 Automated input analysis
 Pre-built
 Robots
 Machines, trucks, fork lifts
 U$19,500

 http://www.flexsim.com/index.php?section=screenshots&page=screenshots

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 Simul8
 Easy to use
 Optimized designs
 OptQuest
 2D and 3D animation
 Integration with C++, Access, VB, Excel
 U$1295 - U$3995, plus optional modules
 Stat::Fit $245
 OptQuest $495

 http://www.simul8.com/products/s8prof.htm

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 AutoMod
 3D animation, ultra-realistic
 Automated output analysis
 Automated input analysis
 Proprietary language
 Object oriented
 Specialized manufacturing modules
 Piping, Robots, Conveyors, Cranes,
Kinematics, AS/RS, others …
 U$20,000 – U$40,000

 http://www.autosimulations.com/products/products.asp
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 ProModel
 General purpose: ProModel
 Has specialized versions:
 MedModel (VB integration)
 ProcessModel (integration with Visio)
 ServiceModel (VB integration)
 Automated model design
 Automated input analysis
 U$3,500
 Stat::Fit U$245

 http://www.promodel.com/products/promodel/

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 MicroSaint

 2.5D animation
 Automated output analysis
 U$4,995
 Basic modeler (no animation, no OptQuest)
 U$8,995
 Includes 2.5D animation and OptQuest

 http://www.maad.com/index.pl/product_tour

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 Witness
 3D animation
 Realistic VR processing
 Optimized designs
 Integration with Visio
 Report writer

 http://www.lanner.com/corporate/technology/witness.htm

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 Conclusions
 Many new features to help with:
 Modeling: language, Visio, animation
 Analysis: automated input and output
 Communications: 3D animation and virtual reality
 Experimentation: optimizers
 Simulation models are becoming more powerful,
easier to build, and capable of representing much
more complex systems

 Open source simulation software is improving:

http://www.topology.org/soft/sim.html

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