topic Re: Problem in transporter in FlexSim Forum

Problem in transporter

maria_a31 — Wed, 11 May 2022 10:36:07 GMT

[ FlexSim 21.1.5 ]

ReachTrucks.fsmHello. I am working on a model were a transporter (stacker) picks up a pallet from a Queue and creates an order. My problem is that the transporter only creates the first order and then it doenst continue to the next one. Can you please help me? Cause i have not found the error yet.

Re: Problem in transporter

jason_lightfoot_adsk — Thu, 12 May 2022 12:07:09 GMT

I am altering this model and will post an updated version.

Re: Problem in transporter

jason_lightfoot_adsk — Thu, 12 May 2022 12:46:11 GMT

Can I ask is your operator meant to be picking boxes from the pallets the forklifts have pulled from rack or are you always processing whole pallets?

Re: Problem in transporter

maria_a31 — Thu, 12 May 2022 12:49:52 GMT

Hey @Jason Lightfoot and thank you for responding so fast! The operator must process the whole pallet and that is why I have used the “token.pulled.up”

Re: Problem in transporter

jason_lightfoot_adsk — Thu, 12 May 2022 14:14:23 GMT

Then I don't see why you ever need to refer to the items and therefore don't need a list and can virtualize all the pallets make it fast compared to the version you posted.

What is the process meant to be? Is it just:

The picks table defines the quantity of pallets by itemcode
The forklifts bring the pallets for each order to the buffer
The operator takes each pallet in an order somewhere (where?)

Re: Problem in transporter

maria_a31 — Thu, 12 May 2022 14:26:31 GMT

I am refering to the items only for the visual part. I have been asked to create a warehouse simulation and fill the racks with boxes on pallets. Each pallet has spesifically one SKU ( 24 boxes on each pallet.)

The process is this:

The golbal table "Picking list" defines the quantity of pallets by itemcode
The forklifts pick up the pallets and transfer them to the buffer.
The operator transfers the pallet to the Queue which represents a truck that has to be loaded. But he must pick the pallets in order based on the client_id. For example the client_id contains the skus 1,3,36 etc. He must pick up these pallets first and then continue with the client_id 2

Re: Problem in transporter

jason_lightfoot_adsk — Fri, 13 May 2022 16:10:36 GMT

Do yo mean order_id? The client has multiple order_ids - which might indicate different pick cycles/delivery days for the same client.

Re: Problem in transporter

maria_a31 — Fri, 13 May 2022 16:20:22 GMT

Yes, if you put it that way order_id sounds more correct. Thank you for the clarification.

Re: Problem in transporter

jason_lightfoot_adsk — Fri, 13 May 2022 16:54:52 GMT

Hi - I made several changes.

1. Speed up the drawing and inventory creation

Remove the list (we'll use the Storage System to find pallets instead of boxes).
Set the Storage System option to virtualize the objects for faster drawing
Add the Itemcode label to the storage system as indexed (for fast lookup).

2. Limit the picking of Pallets.

If we create all the pick jobs at once the items will all be unvirtualized and drawing will be slow.
Create 5 tokens to represent 5 orders and find the pallets for each (All Orders Processing)
Create a list of Buffers spaces and only create the pick job when there is a buffer space (Order Line Processing)

3. Have the Buffer handle events

At the model start, in its own Process Flow it pushes the spaces to a list
When an item enters the Buffer it pushes it to the Buffer Items list
When an items exists the Buffer it pushes a space back onto Buffer Spaces.

4. Have the operator process one order at a time

Use the same order number to read the itemcodes from the picking table.
Create an array of Itemcodes for use in the Pull Buffer Items so that you can say WHERE Itemcode IN puller.Itemcodes.
Remove a matching itemcode from the array when each item is pulled.

At the moment the model will stop because you're asking it to pick itemcodes for which you have no inventory (36)

Model attached.

reachtrucks_byPallet_jl.fsm

Re: Problem in transporter

maria_a31 — Fri, 13 May 2022 17:02:39 GMT

@Jason Lightfoot Thank you so much, i can not describe how helpfull you've been! THanks again!!