What are the main elements used to build models?

Entities

Entities are the items or people being processed—e.g., products, documents, customers, etc. An entity is defined by selecting an entity shape from the shape palette, placing it on the layout, and entering any applicable information for that object in the properties dialog (learn more).

Arrivals

Arrival connections define how entities enter the system to begin processing. Define arrivals by connecting an entity to an activity or storage and entering clarifying information in the properties dialog. The double-headed arrow identifies arrivals (learn more).

Activities

Activities define the process steps and work accomplished on the entities—e.g., such as assembly, document approval, or customer checkout. First, define an “activity” by selecting one of the white icons in the middle of the palette and then clicking on the layout (learn more).

Storages

Storages are waiting areas, stock places, etc. where entities can wait for further processing. Storages are useful when controlling the order in which entities are allowed to move on through the model (learn more).

Routes

Routings, the connectors between activities (and storages), define the direction and conditions for entity flow. In addition, an “activity” or “storage” may have multiple input and output routing connections. They provide the direction and conditions for entities flowing through a process (learn more).

Action Logic

This is the ability to drop in simple code within Arrivals, Activities, Storages, or Routes. Action logic provides a way to extend the capability of ProcessModel. Simple action logic might assign values to an attribute. More complex action logic might select different resources based on an attribute setting (learn more).

Resources

Resources are the agents used to perform activities and move entities such as service personnel, operators or equipment. More than one unit of a particular resource may be defined if they are used interchangeably and have the same operating characteristics. Resources limit production based on scarcity of availability, shifts, priority (learn more).

Resource Connectors

Resources are the agents used to perform activities and move entities such as service personnel, operators or equipment. A fast and simple method of assigning resources to work or movement of entities (learn more).

Model Objects

Model Objects combine any or all ProcessModel elements plus external files to solve complex modeling problems. For example, a model object might import, analyze, and create distributions from raw data, then use entities, arrivals, activities, and action logic to represent patterns of arrivals – cutting the modeling time from hours to minutes. There are hundreds of model objects for all types of processes (learn more).

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