Check Remaining Shift Time

When you don’t want your resources to start work on a new entity when it will take more time that is left of the shift.

Where to Find the Model Object

The following model object can be found in the model objects directory:

• Shift \ Check Remaining Shift Time, 1 Shifts
• Shift \ Check Remaining Shift Time, 2 Shifts
• Shift \ Check Remaining Shift Time, 3 Shifts

Difficulty Level

• Ease of Use: Moderate
• Ease of Modification: Moderate

How to Use the Model Object

1. Open your model: Open your model or create a new blank model.
2. Insert the Model Object into your model: Locate the model object Check Remaining Shift Time, # Shifts and select the insert button.
   • Move the cursor to the point of insertion and left mouse-click. The upper left corner of the model object will be inserted at the location of the mouse-click.
     Note: A trigger is needed to act as a shift clock, initialize starting variable values, and to assign which shift is currently being used.
3. Define Values
   1. Define the values for scenario parameters s_First_Shift_Start,  s_Shift_Length, s_Shifts, s_Res#, s_Weekend_Start, and s_Weekend_Minutes based on the information provided under the heading Scenario Parameters below. The values for these Scenario Parameters must be provided before the simulation start.
   2. Set the activity time (a_PTR) in the Process1 action logic.
      Note: Initial activity time is assigned to the a_PTR attribute at the beginning of the Process1 activity’s action logic. Then attributes, variables, and scenario parameters are compared to determine how to use the remaining shift time, which resource to GET or FREE, and when.
   3. Set the starting shift number (v_Shift) in the Shift Timer action logic.
   4. Update Objects: Copy the Process1 action logic to the activity/activities in your model where you need to pass “in-process” entities to the next shift.
   5. Completion: The model object is now integrated into your model, you should now be able to save and then simulate the model.

Controls Usage

Attributes:

1. a_PTR: Do not change. Processing Time Remaining (initially the total activity time as a new entity enters the activity).

Variables:

1. v_No_Shifts_Time: Do not change. Amount of time, in minutes, between the end of the last shift and the start of the first shift the next day.
2. v_Shift: Do not change. Current shift. 1st shift is always the first shift that starts at or after midnight Monday morning.
3. v_TLOS: Do not change. Time Left On Shift.
4. v_Current_Resource_Available: Do not change. Number of resources currently available.
5. v_DayOfWeek: Do not change. Day of the week (Monday = 1).

Scenario Parameters:

1. s_First_Shift_Start: User input required. Time, in minutes, after midnight Monday morning, when 1st shift starts.
2. s_Shift_Length: User input required. Duration, in minutes, of one shift.
3. s_Shifts: User input required. Number of shifts in a day.
4. s_Res#: User input required. Resource name.
5. s_Weekend_Start: User input required. Day of the week when the weekend starts (default is Saturday ).
6. s_Weekend_Minutes: User input required. Number of minutes in the weekend (default 2880).