Processor starts only when it is full

[1201597]

[ FlexSim 25.0.2 ]

Example 1.fsm

I'm modeling a department in a factory and I have a question. In “Operation 3” the items are processed and placed in “Queue 6”. As soon as “Queue 6” reaches 138 items, “Operator 3” must place the respective items in either “Processor 4” or “Processor 5”, depending on availability. This is where I run into a problem. “Operator 3” can only transport 23 items at a time, and in the model I developed, as soon as he takes the items to one of the processors, the items start to be processed. The aim is for “Operator 3” to take the items to one of the processors and as soon as the 138 items are in place, he can start processing the items. In addition, the processors have a setup time of 111 seconds, and “Operator 3” must be used for this purpose.

[moehlmann_fe]

I think the solution from the post linked below should also work here.

https://answers.flexsim.com/questions/178726/performing-in-batch.html

You will need to add a queue in front of two processors to which the operator unloads the items. This is because if an operator is required for the setup, then the processor will 'stop' once the first item arrives and no longer allow for additional items to be unloaded into it.

I think it would make sense to replace the processors with combiners set to "Batch". That way there is only one setup and process time. The queues would have two port connections to the combiner, so both the initial item as well as all others come from the same queue.

[1201597]

The problem I'm facing when replacing the processors with combiners is that the operator is not taking all the items to one of the combiners first, but instead he takes one item to combiner 1 and one item to combiner 2.

[moehlmann_fe]

Which is why I referred to the other post where I show how to release items to downstream objects in batches by using a list and small Process Flow.

release-as-batch_1.fsm

[1201597]

Thank you for taking your time to help me, but I'm not getting how you do it. I tried using the process flow but it would continue the same.

[moehlmann_fe]

I can't really help you further without seeing your model or without more specific questions/problem descriptions from you.

[1201597]

The model is the one attached to the message. I've tried to model using process flow, but couldn't make it work, maybe because the problem I'm facing is in the "middle" of the simulation run. In this case I don't know how to do it and I've been trying. Thank you for the attention.

[moehlmann_fe · Accepted solution]

Here is one possible implementation of the logic in your model.

[1201597]

Thank you for taking your time to help me solve my problem.