Operator Task Assignment During Breaks

[bryanastra]

[ FlexSim 23.2.0 ]

I am currently working on a model where 3 operators (OP 1, OP 2, and OP 3) manage two production lines with red and blue machines. Presently, during break times for Operator 3, Operators 1 and 2 take over the respective lines.

However, I am trying to optimize the system by having Operator 3 handle tasks for Line 1 when Operator 1 is on break and Line 2 when Operator 2 is on break. I've experimented with additional dispatchers and break times, but it's becoming more complex.

I have attached the file for your reference. Could you please provide suggestions or insights on how I can achieve this task assignment without complicating the model further?

WISP Cushion propuesta - Copy.fsm

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

This model has its process flow under one of the operators - you should probably correct this by running this script.

Object procFlow=Model.find("Operator1/ProcessFlow");
procFlow.up=Model.find("Tools/ProcessFlow");

[jason_lightfootVL7B4 · Accepted solution]

When you give an operator a preempting tasksequence to stop the current task it will look for somewhere to send the interrupted task on the operators output ports. So you can try connecting an output to DispatcherOP3. That in itself is not enough though, since this output also serves as an overflow if Operator1 is busy. So at reset, close the output of the operator; open it with the timetable Down Function, and close it again with the timetable Resume Function.

[bryanastra]

Thank you. Im just wondering what you mean by "close the output of the operator"? Can I do that with a trigger function?

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

Yes - on the reset trigger:

closeoutput(current);

Then in the timetable's down function:

openoutput(downobject);  // before you stop the object

And in the resume function:

closeoutput(downobject);

[bryanastra]

Could you please check the file? I created the trigger function for Operator 1 and inserted the timetables function as instructed but now Operator 1 wont go on breaks. I might have missed or misunderstood something.

WISP Cushion propuesta - Copy.fsm

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

First of all - you didn't run this scrip to fix your Process Flow location:

Object procFlow=Model.find("Operator1/ProcessFlow");
procFlow.up=Model.find("Tools/ProcessFlow");

Second - you needed to add the expressions I listed to the existing downfunction/resumefunction - not replace it. That means opening the code and adding the lines above after the variable declarations - so line 7.

[bryanastra]

should i add the downfunction/resumefunction expressions to operator 1 only or the rest of the operators?

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

That's for you to decide based on what you want them to do.

An input port on an operator allows it to take jobs from dispatchers (an operator is also a dispatcher)

An output port allows jobs to be sent on to other dispatchers or task executers.

Stopping/resuming (or closing/opening) those port prevents those things from happening.

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

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