CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

LAB # 1

OBJECTIVE: To create an Arena model using flow chat modules and observe the results of the
simulation run.

THEORY:
Simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. The act
of simulating something first requires that a model be developed; this model represents the key
characteristics, behaviors and functions of the selected physical or abstract system or process.
The model represents the system itself, whereas the simulation represents the operation of the
system over time.
Modeling is a way to create a virtual representation of a real-world system that includes
software and hardware.
Computer simulation the use of a computer to represent the dynamic responses of one system
by the behavior of another system modeled after it. A simulation uses a mathematical
description, or model, of a real system in the form of a computer program. This model is
composed of equations that duplicate the functional relationships within the real system. When
the program is run, the resulting mathematical dynamics form an analog of the behavior of the
real system, with the results presented in the form of data. A simulation can also take the form of
a computer-graphics image that represents dynamic processes in an animated sequence.
Examples of simulation
• Automobiles
• Biomechanics
• Communication satellites
• Economics
• Engineering, technology, and processes
• Finance
• Flight
• Marine
• Military
• Project management
• Robotics
• Production

Factors or Components of simulation model

Entity: An entity is something that exists as itself, as a subject or as an object, actually or

potentially, concretely or abstractly, physically or not. It need not be of material existence. In
particular, abstractions and legal fictions are usually regarded as entities.

SSUET/QR/114 1
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Attribute: An attribute is a quality or characteristic of a person, place or thing. Variables: Piece

of information that reflect some characteristic /piece of information that define attributes.
Built-in Variables: No. of busy resources and simulation time.
User Define Variables: No of objects in system.
Resource: Represent a group of several individual servers each of which is called a unit. Event:
Arrivals, Departure, Wait.
Simulation Clock: The current value of time in the simulation.
Queuing System: A queue management system is used to control queues. Queues of people
form in various situations and locations in a queue area. A queuing system is described as
• Its calling a population
• Nature of arrivals
• Service mechanisms
• System capacity
• Queuing disciple
E.g.: Take away meal service (KFC)
Billing system (Bank)
M/M/1 Queue Model: Represent a queue length in a system having a single server, where
arrivals are determined by a Poisson process and job service times have an exponential
distribution.
• Arrivals occur at rate λ according to a Poisson process and move the process from state I
to i+1.
• Service times have an exponential distribution with parameter μ.

Arena is a discrete event simulation and automation software developed by Systems Modeling
and acquired by Rockwell Automation in 2000.[1] It uses the SIMAN processor and simulation
language. As of Dec 2016, it is in version 15, providing significant enhancements in
optimization, animation and inclusion of 64bit operation for modeling processes with 'Big Data'.
In Arena, the user builds an experiment model by placing modules (boxes of different shapes)
that represent processes or logic. Connector lines are used to join these modules together and to
specify the flow of entities. While modules have specific actions relative to entities, flow, and
timing, the precise representation of each module and entity relative to real-life objects is subject
to the modeler. Statistical data, such as cycle time and WIP (work in process) levels, can be
recorded and made output as reports.
Arena can be integrated with Microsoft technologies. It includes Visual Basic for Applications so
models can be further automated if specific algorithms are needed. It also supports importing
Microsoft Visio flowcharts, as well as reading from or sending output to Excel spreadsheets and
Access databases. Arena modules

Flow Chart: Create, separate, process, assign, dispose, record.

Data object Model: Entity, queue, resource, set, variable and schedule.

SSUET/QR/114 2
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Create Module:

Description:

This module is intended as the starting point for entities in a simulation model. Entities are
created using a schedule or based on a time between arrivals. Entities then leave the module to
begin processing through the system. The entity type is specified in this module.

PROMPT:

Prompt Description:

Name— Unique module identifier. This name is displayed on the module shape.

Entity Type— Name of the entity type to be generated.

Type— Type of arrival stream to be generated. Types include Random (uses an Exponential
distribution, user specifies mean), Schedule (uses an Exponential distribution, mean determined
from the specified Schedule module), Constant (user specifies constant value, e.g., 100), or
Expression (pull down list of various distributions).

Value— Determines the mean of the exponential distribution (if Random is used) or the constant
value (if Constant is used) for the time between arrivals. Applies only when Type is Random or
Constant.

Schedule Name— Identifies the name of the schedule to be used. The schedule defines the
arrival pattern for entities arriving to the system. Applies only when Type is Schedule.

Expression— Any distribution or value specifying the time between arrivals. Applies only when
Type is Expression.

Units— Time units used for interarrival and first creation times. Does not apply when Type is
Schedule.

Entities per Arrival— Number of entities that will enter the system at a given time with each
arrival.

Max Arrivals— Maximum number of arrivals that this module will generate. When this value is
reached, the creation of new arrivals by this module ceases.

First Creation— Starting time for the first entity to arrive at the system. Does not apply when
Type is Schedule.

SSUET/QR/114 3
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

EXAMPLE:

Example 1— Random Arrivals

Prompt Entry
Name Accounts Receivable
Entity Type Document
Type Random
Value 8
Units Hours
Entities per UNIF (2,8)
Arrival
Max Arrivals Infinite
First Creation 4
The Accounts Receivable module will generate Document entities into the system based on an
Exponential distribution with a mean of 8 hours. The Entities Per Arrival is based on a Uniform
distribution between 2 and 8 documents. The result will be an expressed as a whole number of
entities (not a fraction). The first batch of documents is generated at 4 hours into the simulation
run.

Example 2— Scheduled Arrivals

Prompt Entry
Name Incoming Support Calls
Entity Type Customer Call
Type Schedule
Schedule Name Spring Weekly Schedule
Entities per 1
Arrival
Max Arrivals Infinite
The Incoming Support Calls module generates customer calls into the simulation system. The
arrival rate of incoming customer calls varies over a given day, so a schedule is used that will
specify the mean of an exponential distribution based on the values in a schedule. The Spring
Weekly Schedule specifies the rate of incoming calls. Only one call is received at a time (entities
per arrival = 1). Also see the Arrival Schedule example in the Schedule module.

Process Module:

Description:

This module is intended as the main processing method in the simulation. Options for seizing
and releasing resource constraints are available. Additionally, there is the option to use a
"submodel" and specify hierarchical user-defined logic. The process time is allocated to the

SSUET/QR/114 4
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

entity and may be considered to be value added, non-value added, transfer, wait or other. The
associated cost will be added to the appropriate category.

PROMPT:

Prompt Description:

Name—Unique module identifier. This name is displayed on the module shape.

Type—Method of specifying logic within the module. Standard processing signifies that all
logic will be stored within the Process module and defined by a particular Action. Submodel
indicates that the logic will be hierarchically defined in a "submodel" that can include any
number of logic modules.

Action—Type of processing that will occur within the module. Delay simply indicates that a
process delay will be incurred with no resource constraints. Seize Delay indicates that a
resource(s) will be allocated in this module and a delay will occur, but that resource release will
occur at a later time. Seize Delay Release indicates that a resource(s) will be allocated followed
by a process delay and then the allocated resource(s) will be released. Delay Release indicates
that a resource(s) has previously been allocated and that the entity will simply delay and release
the specified resource(s). Applies only when Type is Standard.

Priority—Priority value of the entity waiting at this module for the specified resource(s). Used
when one or more entities from other modules are waiting for the same resource(s). Does not
apply when Action is Delay or Delay Release, or when Type is Submodel.

Resources—Lists the resources or resource sets used for entity processing. Does not apply when
Action is Delay, or when Type is Submodel.

Type—Specification of a particular resource, or selecting from a pool of resources (i.e., a

resource set).

Resource Name—Name of the resource that will be seized and/or released. Applies only when
Type is Resource.

Set Name—Name of the resource set from which a member will be seized and/or released.
Applies only when Type is Set.

Units to Seize/Release—Number of resource units of a given name or from a given set that will
be seized/released. For sets, this value specifies only the number of a selected resource that will
be seized/released (based on the resource’s capacity), not the number of members of a set to be
seized/released.

Selection Rule—Method of selecting among available resources in a set. Cyclical will cycle
through available members (1st member-2nd member-3rd member-1st member-2nd member-3rd
member). Random will randomly select a member. Preferred Order will always select the first

SSUET/QR/114 5
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

available member (1st member if available, then 2nd member if available, then 3rd member).
Specific Member requires an input attribute value to specify which member of the set (previously
saved in the Save Attribute field). Largest Remaining Capacity and Smallest Number Busy are
used for resources with multiple capacity. Applies only when Type is Set.

Save Attribute—Attribute name used to store the index number into the set of the member that
is chosen. This attribute can later be referenced with the Specific Member selection rule. Applies
only when Selection Rule is other than Specific Member. Does not apply when Selection Rule is
Specific Member. If Action is specified as Delay Release, the value specified defines which
member (the index number) of the set to be released. If no attribute is specified, the entity will
release the member of the set that was last seized.

Set Index—The index number into the set of the member requested. Applies only when
Selection Rule is Specific Member. If Action is specified as Delay Release, the value specified
defines which member (the index number) of the set is to be released.

Delay Type—Type of distribution or method of specifying the delay parameters. Constant and
Expression require single values, while Normal, Uniform and Triangular require several
parameters.

Units—Time units for delay parameters.

Allocation—Determines how the processing time and process costs will be allocated to the
entity. The process may be considered to be value added, non-value added, transfer, wait or other
and the associated cost will be added to the appropriate category for the entity and process.

Minimum—Parameter field for specifying the minimum value for either a Uniform or
Triangular distribution.

Value—Parameter field for specifying the mean for a normal distribution, the value for a
Constant time delay, or the mode for a Triangular distribution.

Maximum—Parameter field for specifying the maximum value for either a Uniform or
Triangular distribution.

Std Dev—Parameter field for specifying the standard deviation for a normal distribution.

Expression—Parameter field for specifying an expression whose value is evaluated and used for
the processing time delay.

Report Statistics— Specifies whether or not statistics will automatically be collected and stored
in the report database for this process.

Example 1—Simple Delay

Prompt Entry

SSUET/QR/114 6
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Name Check Processing

Type Standard
Action Delay
Delay Type Triangular
Units Minutes
Allocation Value Added
Minimum 30
Value (Most 45
Likely)
Maximum 60
The Check Processing area is an automatic process where no resources are necessary. The
process takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, with a mode time of 45 minutes. This is
considered to be a value-added process and the time incurred will be added to the entity’s
Entity.VATime (Value Added) attribute.

Example 2—Simple Delay Utilizing One Resource

Prompt Entry
Name Review Document
Type Standard
Action Seize Delay
Release
Priority Medium (2)
Resources
Type Resource
Resource Name Clerk
Quantity 1
Delay Type Triangular
Units Minutes
Allocation Non-Value Added
Minimum 15
Value 20
Maximum 40
Dispose Module:

Description:

This module is intended as the ending point for entities in a simulation model. Entity statistics
may be recorded before the entity is disposed.

PROMPT:

Prompt Description:

SSUET/QR/114 7
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Name—Unique module identifier. This name is displayed on the module shape.

Record Entity Statistics—Determines whether or not the incoming entity’s statistics will be
recorded. Statistics include value added time, non-value-added time, wait time, transfer time,
other time, total time, value added cost, non-value-added cost, wait cost, transfer cost, other cost,
and total cost.

Model:

Create:

SSUET/QR/114 8
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Process:

Dispose:

SSUET/QR/114 9
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

R un ning Model:

Report:

Entity:

SSUET/QR/114 10
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Queue:

Resource:

SSUET/QR/114 11
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Task: Observe the report and fill performance measurement table (PMT)

Task1: Observe the report and fill performance measurement table (PMT)

SSUET/QR/114 12
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Performance Measure Where to look in ARENA reports Results

Total Production Entitiy.Number Out 100
Average delay in queue Queue.Waiting Time - Average 0.05102722

Maximum delay in queue Queue.Waiting Time – Maximum 0.1167

Value

Average time in system Entitiy.Total Time - Average 0.06839866

Maximum time in system Entitiy.Total Time – Maximum Value 0.1324

Time-average num. of parts in Queue.Number Waiting - Average 2.7251

queue

Maximum number of parts in Queue.Number Waiting – Max 7.0000

queue Value

Machine utilization Resource Utilization 0.9277

Model:

Create:

Process:

SSUET/QR/114 13
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Dispose:

Running Model:

Report:

SSUET/QR/114 14
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Entity:

SSUET/QR/114 15
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Queue:

SSUET/QR/114 16
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Resource:

SSUET/QR/114 17
CE-407 Simulation & Modelling 2020-CE-091

Performance Measure Where to look in ARENA reports Results

Total Production Entitiy.Number Out 100
Average delay in queue Queue.Waiting Time - Average 0.05102722
Maximum delay in queue Queue.Waiting Time – Maximum 0.1167
Value
Average time in system Entitiy.Total Time - Average 0.06839866
Maximum time in system Entitiy.Total Time – Maximum 0.1324
Value
Time-average num. of parts in Queue.Number Waiting - Average 2.7251
queue
Maximum number of parts in Queue.Number Waiting – Max 7.0000
queue Value
Machine utilization Resource Utilization 0.9277

SSUET/QR/114 18