Simulation Software

1
Simulation Software

• J.Pemberton Cyrus, Ph.D., P.Eng.
• Industrial Engineering
• Dalhousie University
• 27 May 2004

pemberton.cyrus_at_dal.ca
2
Agenda

• Why Simulation?
• How to do Simulation
• Advantages
• Whats New
• Examples of Software Packages

3
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

4
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

5
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

6
Whats 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 (StatFit, ExpertFit)
• Specialized modeling packages

7
3D Animation
FlexSim AutoMod Arena
8
Ultra-realism
9
Language integration

• Excel (reports)
• Access (data retrieval)
• VBA (integration with Office tools)
• VB
• C
• C
• Visio (process modeling)

10
Visio integration

• Build the process in Visio
• Use the simulation engine to evaluate it

Witness Arena ProModel
11
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
12
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 FlexSim
13
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 Witness
14
Automated Input Analysis

• Data is collected
• Data is imported into ExpertFit or StatFit
• Probability distributions are automatically fit
  to the data (family and parameters)
• The distribution representations are customized
  for the simulation package

ExpertFit StatFit
15
Specialized Modelers

• Computer Networks
• Call Centers
• Hospitals
• Work Flow
• Traffic Flow
• Manufacturing

16
Manufacturing Simulation Software

• Arena
• FlexSim
• Simul8
• AutoMod
• MicroSaint
• ProModel
• Witness

17
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
• U795 - C25,000
• http//www.arenasimulation.com/

18
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
• U19,500
• http//www.flexsim.com/index.php?sectionscreensho
  tspagescreenshots

19
Simul8

• Easy to use
• Optimized designs
• OptQuest
• 2D and 3D animation
• Integration with C, Access, VB, Excel
• U1295 - U3995, plus optional modules
• StatFit 245
• OptQuest 495
• http//www.simul8.com/products/s8prof.htm

20
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
• U20,000 U40,000
• http//www.autosimulations.com/products/products.a
  sp

21
ProModel

• General purpose ProModel
• Has specialized versions
• MedModel (VB integration)
• ProcessModel (integration with Visio)
• ServiceModel (VB integration)
• Automated model design
• Automated input analysis
• U3,500
• StatFit U245
• http//www.promodel.com/products/promodel/

22
MicroSaint

• 2.5D animation
• Automated output analysis
• U4,995
• Basic modeler (no animation, no OptQuest)
• U8,995
• Includes 2.5D animation and OptQuest
• http//www.maad.com/index.pl/product_tour

23
Witness

• 3D animation
• Realistic VR processing
• Optimized designs
• Integration with Visio
• Report writer
• http//www.lanner.com/corporate/technology/witness
  .htm

24
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