10.5.2 – Using a Resource to Move Entities

Routing an entity with the use of a resource (employee, machine, etc.).

Suggested Technique

1. Create the routing connection where the resource will be used.

2. Create the resource. (Be sure that the Object Type field in the properties dialog indicates Resource .)

3. Connect the resource to the routing connection using the line tool.

  Alternatively, you may use a GET statement in the Action logic of the routing connection and a FREE statement in the Action logic of the next activity. Connected resources will always be captured before resources specified in a GET statement. On the other hand, resource connections that free a resource occur after any Action logic for the routing or activity.

Example: Patients in a waiting room are escorted to a treatment room by a nurse.

TO DO: Connect the nurse (once created as above) to the appropriate routing.

 To learn more about resources, see Resources and Resource Assignments.

10.5.3 – Keep a Resource throughout Multiple Activities

A resource is continuously used throughout a number of activities, including the moves from one activity to another. Useful in modeling resources such as case workers.

Suggested Technique

1. Connect the resource to the activity where the resource will first be used and select Get from the Type field in the properties dialog of the connection.

2. Connect the resource to the activity where the resource will last be used and select Free from the Type field in the properties dialog of the connection

 Alternatively, you may use the GET and FREE statements in the Action logic of the appropriate activities. Connected resources will always be captured before resources specified in a GET statement. On the other hand, resource connections that free a resource occur after any Action logic for the activity.

Example: Incoming jobs to a copy center are received, copied, and invoiced all by the same clerk in three consecutive steps.

TO DO: Connect the clerk to the Receive activity and select Get from the Type field in the properties dialog. Then connect the clerk to the Invoice activity and select Free from the Type field in the properties dialog.

  To learn more about resources, see Resources and Resource Assignments.

10.5.4 – Using Multiple Resources

Using more than one resource (employee, machine, etc.) to perform an activity.

Suggested Technique

1. Connect the resources to the activity or routing.

2. Make sure that each connection Type is either a Get or Get and Free.

Example: A dental treatment requires the use of a dentist and an assistant.

TO DO: Connect both resources to the activity.

  Alternatively, you may use the GET or JOINTLYGET and FREE statements in the Action logic. Connected resources will always be captured before resources specified in a GET statement. On the other hand, resource connections that free a resource occur after any Action logic for the activity. If each resource is required for different lengths of time, use Get connections and specify the times followed by FREE statements in the activity Action logic. For example:

TIME(3.5 min)
FREE Doctor
TIME(5 min) // Nurse used for 5 additional minutes
FREE Nurse

10.5.5 – Using Alternate Resources

Designating a resource to use as an alternate if the primary resource assigned to the activity or move is unavailable.

Suggested Technique

1. Connect the primary resource to the activity or routing.

2. Connect the alternate resource to the primary resource connection.

  Alternative resources may also be captured using the GET or JOINTLYGET statement with the OR operator. Connected resources will always be captured before resources specified in a GET statement. On the other hand, resource connections that free a resource occur after any Action logic for the activity.

Example: Normally the loan officer will help the customer with the loan application at the Application activity, but if no loan officers are available, a customer service representative can take the loan application.

TO DO: Connect the Service Rep (the alternate resource) to the assignment connection between the Loan Officer and the Application activity as shown above.

 To learn more, see Resources and Resource Assignments.

 If you use a GET connection (instead of a GET & FREE) to capture a resource and then connect an alternate resource to that connection, you must connect a free connection to both the primary and alternate resources when the resource is freed. One free connection is then executed and the others are ignored; the correct resource is freed without you knowing which one was captured.

10.5.6 – Determining the Resource Being Used

When an alternate resource is captured by an entity and a decision or activity time depends on which resource was captured, the OwnedResource function may be used to determine which resource was captured.

Suggested Technique

1. In the action logic of the activity or routing, use the OwnedResource() function without a number between the parentheses to test the name of the most recently captured resource.

2. Execute the appropriate action based on the name returned by the OwnedResource() function.

  Alternatively, you may use the GET statement with an OR separating the alternate resources in the Action logic to capture the resources, and then use the OwnedResource() function to determine the captured resource. Connected resources will always be captured before resources specified in a GET statement. On the other hand, resource connections that free a resource occur after any Action logic for the activity.

Example: A receptionist usually answers the phone, but if the receptionist is busy, the filing clerk will answer the phone. If the filing clerk answers the phone, the call lasts about 7 minutes, otherwise it takes about 5 minutes.

TO DO: In the Action logic of the Answer Phone activity, enter:
IF OwnedResource() = Clerk THEN TIME(7 min)
ELSE TIME(5 min)

  To learn more about the OwnedResource() function, see OwnedResource(n).

10.5.7 – Prioritizing Resource Usage

When two different activities each have an entity waiting to use the same resource, one activity may have higher priority over another. When that is the case, the resource will be used at the activity with a higher priority specified in the resource connection.

Suggested Technique

1. Select the resource connection that is attached to the activity with a higher priority.

2. Enter a priority in the Priority field between 0 and 99. The higher the number the higher the priority (the default is 0).

3. Enter the appropriate priorities in the properties dialogs of the remaining resource connections that must be prioritized.

  Alternatively, you may use the GET or JOINTLY GET statements in the Action logic with a priority set off by a comma for the resource: GET Resource1, 99 . Connected resources will always be captured before resources specified in a GET statement. On the other hand, resource connections that free a resource occur after any Action logic for the activity.

 Example: A grocery store uses their available cashiers to restock shelves during slow times, but their cashiering duties have a higher priority than restocking. Note: For the priority to work, customers must be waiting in line (in the input queue) when the resource becomes free. If people are not waiting, the priority will not be the determining factor for selection.

TO DO: Connect the worker to both Restock and Cashiering activities, but enter a priority of 1 for the cashiering connection. (The default for the other connection is a priority of 0.) When there are available cashiers, they will respond first to the cashiering activity since it has a higher priority.

  To learn more about resources, see Resources and Resource Assignments.

10.5.8 – Interrupting Resources

Taking a resource off a task to perform another whether or not it has finished the original task. Then the resource returns to the interrupted task to finish it.

Suggested Technique

1. Select the resource connection that is attached to the activity or routing that should always receive immediate attention.

2. Check the Respond immediately box in the properties dialog of the resource connection.

  Alternatively, you may use the GET or JOINTLYGET statements in the Action logic with a priority of 100 set off by a comma for the resource: GET Resource1, 100. (The 100 is an interruptive priority.) Connected resources will always be captured before resources specified in a GET statement. On the other hand, resource connections that free a resource occur after any Action logic for the activity.

Example: A receptionist must type up dictations and answer the phone. When the phone rings the receptionist must interrupt typing the current dictation and answer the phone.

TO DO: Make the connections and check the Respond immediately box as shown above.

10.5.9 – Scheduled Equipment Maintenance

Scheduling equipment for regular maintenance so that it is unavailable for use during certain periods. (If maintenance is done during off hours, it can be safely ignored in the model.)

Suggested Technique

1. Assign a shift to the resource to indicate scheduled downtime (for maintenance or other purposes). For information on creating and assigning shifts, see Defining & Editing Shift & Break Blocks.

  Whenever possible, use the shift schedule for scheduled interruptions.

10.5.10 – Equipment Failure

A resource, such as a machine, fails during the simulation.

Suggested Technique

1. Select the resource for which you want to define random failure.

2. In the properties dialog, click on the Availability tab and select the Time option button.

3. Enter the appropriate distributions in the Time between interruptions (the time between failure) and the Interruption time (the repair time) fields.

Example: A copy mach