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.
Entities are represented by graphics you choose from the palette. They will be shown as moving graphics during the process simulation. Using meaningful graphics in the model to represent entities in your real system will allow others to accurately visualize the flow through the process. They are processed at activities and are moved on routings from activity to activity. Entities can have an initial cost and collect additional costs from processing at activities, movement on routings and from the use of resources. There are hundreds of predefined entities in ProcessModel from all major industries.
Any ProcessModel graphic can be used as an entity (activity, resource, storage, link, label). To use a non entity graphic as an entity, double-click on the graphic and change the object type to Entity.
Each pre-defined entity graphic is assigned a number by ProcessModel. These numbers are used only for the NewGraphic statement (see NEWGRAPHIC).
ProcessModel contains several predefined entity shapes. Each predefined entity shape has the word ‘entity’ placed in parentheses in the shape name. However, you may also define custom entity shapes.
General
Name The name of the entity (e.g. Customer, Product_A, etc.). The entity name is used primarily for decision making and reporting purposes. It is simply a descriptive attribute that may be changed during the simulation and tested for making process decisions. Entity statistics are reported based on the final name of the entity.
When you add an additional text label to an entity, place the label on the center of the entity. Otherwise, the entity will appear smaller during simulation.
Statistics: Yes / No This selection determines whether statistical information will be collected, displayed in the scoreboard, and reported in the Output Module for this entity.
The maximum number of entities that can be displayed in the simulation scoreboard is 12. That number cannot be modified.
Object Type Allows the type of object to be changed from Entity to something else.
Related to Entity
- What is Entity Cost?
- How do I change Activity Time based on Entity Attribute?
- How do I Change Activity Time Based on Recurring Entity Passes?
- How do I Divide an Entity?
- How do I Randomly Assign Entity Attribute Values?
- How do I Renege an Entity?
- How do I Tracking Entity Conditions?
- How do I Change Entity Graphics During Simulation?
- How do I Import Entity Graphics?
- Why am I Getting Entity Arrival Failures at the End of Simulation?
- Why am I Getting Entity Exits System Before Releasing all Captured Resources?