Steady State Analysis

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In this exercise, we will perform a steady state analysis of a simulation model. Build the model in the
picture and make the setting according to the table.

Object Process/Dwell Capacity Availability MTTR

Time

Op10 3:00 95 % 10:00

Buffer1 0:10 8

Op20 5:20 95 % 10:00

Buffer2 0:10 8

Op30 5:30 95 % 10:00

Buffer3 0:10 8

Op40_1 11:40 95 % 10:00

Op40_2 11:40 95 % 10:00

Buffer4 0:10 8

Op50 5:00 95 % 10:00

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 Buffer5 0:10 8

Op60_1 16:40 95 % 10:00

Op60_2 16:40 95 % 10:00

Op60_3 16:40 95 % 10:00

Buffer6 0:10 8

Buffer7 0:10 8

Buffer8 0:10 8

Op70_1 16:50 95 % 10:00

Op70_2 16:50 95 % 10:00

Op70_3 16:50 95 % 10:00

Buffer9 0:10 8

Op80 3:20 95 % 10:00

Op90 1:00 95 % 10:00

Set the simulation end to 10:00:00:00 and Statistics to 0 in the eventcontroller.

Verify that you have a TH of about 9,74.

To determine the steady state we will look at both the throughput per hour and average wip. The
throughput per hour is already defined in the drain and we can use it as we have before but we will
have to calculate the average WIP ourself.

Take a variable from the information flow and place it in the frame, Open it and change the datatype
to real, the name to WIP and put in an initial value of 0.

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Open the source and go to controls, in the entrance right-click and click Create Control, This will
create a method (snippet of code) that will trigger whenever something enters the source.

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In the method write the code as in the picture. You can either apply the code using the green check
box “Apply Changes” or close the window and you will be asked if you want to apply the changes.
When you close the dialog window of the Source make sure that you have clicked the apply button
or closed the window using the OK button, do not use the X at the top right corner of the dialog the
code will disappear. Now do the same for the Drain but instead of + use -.

Run the model and verify that the WIP variable in the frame increases when part enter the source
and decreases when parts are leaving the model.

Now take a DataTable and place it in the frame and rename it to SteadyState by right clicking it and
choose rename.

Open the SteadyState and in the top right square right click and choose format.

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Change the datatype from string to real, this will change the entire tables data type from string to
real. It is also possible to just change specific columns data type.

Go to the Dimension tab and in columns put in 3 and click apply.

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At the top you can see something called column index, by activating it a new row is created where it
is possible add headings. Do so and write in the headings in the picture.

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Now drag and drop a method into the frame and rename it by right clicking to SteadyStateMethod.

Open the method and write the code in the picture.

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The red dot is called a breakpoint and will stop the code when it is reached, add it in the same place
as in the picture by standing on the same row and press F9

Codes can be triggered in a number of ways for example: on entrance, on exit, on starting the model
etc. For this code we will use a generator. Drag and drop a generator in to the frame and rename it
SteadyStateGenerator.

Drag and drop the SteadyStateMethod onto the SteadyStateGenerator, this will connect the two
objects. Open the SteadyStateObject and put in 1:00:00 in the interval field, this will make the code
in the steadyStateMethod trigger with an interval of 1 hour. If you go to the Controls tab you can see
that the SteadyStateMethod is set in the interval.

Now run the model, you should get a pop up that looks like this.

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You can step through the code by pressing F10, Step through the code and add comments to every
row of what is happening.

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The overall function of the method is to get data from the model and store it in the SteadyState
datatable. We will add one last bit of code. Drag and drop a new method and rename it init. This will
change the icon of the method indicating that the code written inside it will be triggered every time
the model is started. This can also be done with endism which will trigger the method when the
model reaches the end of the simulation and reset which will trigger a code when the model is reset.

Open the init method and write the code in the picture. This will delete all the data from the
SteadyStateTable every time the model started to prevent old data from being mistakenly included.

Remove the break point by clicking F9 when the row is active and run the model to the end.

Open the SteadyState table and you will see that a lot of data has been logged. To analyse it we will
copy the data we need to excel. Open excel and copy the columns TH and WIP average.

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As you can see the plant simulation uses dot as a separator while excel uses comma. To easily fix this
select the both the TH column and the WIP Average column and press CTRL+H

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In the Find what field put a dot and in the Replace with field put a comma and click replace all.

Now make a line diagram of both the TH and the WIP average.

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What is the warm-up time of the system?

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