Multiple process times in one processor using 1 or more dispatchers

[ENepunan]

[ FlexSim 23.0.3 ]

MultipProcessExample_22-withdispatcher.fsmI was provided a possible solution to model multiple sequential process steps in one processor using a process flow. It works if there is only a single Operator task executor who will keep unloading/loading the same part multiple times until completed. However my case involves using a dispatcher of multiple operators and some of the substeps will require both an Operator and an Inspector (from a different Dispatcher). When I try to set this up, as soon as the first substep is completed and an Operator unloads the item (to load back again into the same processor for the 2nd substep/etc), a different Operator will load a new item into the processor. The processor should only be running 1 item at a time and should complete all the substeps outlined in the process flow before same/different Operator should load a new item. How should I model this correctly? Thank you!

[julie_weller · Accepted solution]

Hi @Edwin N! It looks like you probably want to use a resource in the process flow. If you add all the operators to a group and then use the group as a resource you can then acquire and release operators and it will choose the first available. For more help, you could post your model (if it's proprietary just toggle this post to private) and we could take a close look at it!

[ENepunan]

Hi Julie, thank you for the response. This was actually what I did first. However, I need to run scenarios using the experimenter to determine the qty of resources I need and having this resource in the PF won't allow me to get this answer... Unless there is a way to run experiments with resources existing in both 3d model and process flows?

[julie_weller]

You actually can do that! For example if we create a group called something like "Operators" and add our operator to it, in the parameter table you could sample that group and for the trigger choose Delete and Copy Out Group members. Then the resource would sample the Operators group as well and would change based on the number in the parameter table. Let me know if that makes sense! I'll upload a very simple sample model in a minute or two.

[julie_weller]

Here's that model!

Group Operators Sample.fsm

[ENepunan]

Ok I will try that and create groups of Operators and Inspectors. Is this also the same approach for the processor so I can include it in the experiment runs? Even if there is only member in the group for the Processor?

Second question: If I sample the Dispatcher (group of Operators in the 3d model) and sample the Group in the process flow (same group of Operators) as different parameters, will the experimenter treat these as two different resource groups and therefore I should treat them as a collective pool when reviewing the scenario results?

[ENepunan]

Got it, thank you!

[julie_weller]

You can do the same thing with processors, even if there's just one processor in the group.

As for your second question, I'm not sure. I would think the experimenter would be smart enough to know that you're using the same group of operators. I honestly don't use dispatchers very often. You could actually just replace the dispatcher with 1 operator and then use the parameter table to increment or decrement the number of operators and that way you wouldn't have to worry about it.

[julie_weller]

If you control the operators in process flow using a resource, you shouldn't need a dispatcher at all.

[ENepunan]

Got it, thank you for all the inputs! Will try them out and see how it goes.

[julie_weller]

Anytime! Let me know if you have more questions afterwards

[julie_weller]

Hi @Edwin N, was that answer helpful? If so, please click the "Accept" button at the bottom of their answer. Or if you still have questions, add a comment and we'll continue the conversation.

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