Modeling and Simulating Business Processes

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Modeling and Simulating Business Processes

• Chapter 8
• Business Process Modeling, Simulation and Design

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Simulating Business Processes
NOTE
We recommend presenting this chapter by running
Extend 6.0 directly, and interactively show how
the program works. However, for your
convenience, we have attached a selection of the
figures/screenshots from Chapter 8 of the book as
the basis for an in class presentation without
access to a computer with Extend installed.
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Generating Items
Import block dialog showing and exponential
inter-arrival times with mean of 6 minutes
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Generating Items
Input Data block used to change the first
parameter of the inter-arrival time distribution
in the Import block
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Generating Items
Input Data block dialog for dry cleaner example
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Generating Items
Program block (and dialog window) connected to a
Stack block
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Prioritizing Items
Selection of a priority queue in the Queue tab of
a Stack block
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Balking
Model of a single server with a queue, where
customers balk if the line reaches a specified
number of customers
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Balking
Dialog window of the Decision(2) block
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Reneging
Model of a single server with a queue, where
customers hang up after being on hold for
specified amount of time
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Reneging
Stack block to simulate a reneging queue with
reneging time of 5 minutes
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Priority Queues
Admissions process with a priority queue that
allows patients to go in front of the line after
filling out additional forms
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Priority Queues
Dialog window of the Stack block
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Routing - Multiple Paths
Example of probabilistic routing of an incoming
job
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Multiple Paths
Illustration of probabilistic routing with Extend
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Multiple Paths
Illustration of tactical routing with customers
choosing the shortest line
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Routing Parallel Paths
Parallel activities in an order fulfillment
process
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Parallel Paths
Operation, Reverse block and dialog window
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Parallel Paths
Operation block that batches two items
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Parallel Paths
Extend model of the order fulfillment process
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Processing Time
Slider control
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Processing Time
Input Data block to model variable processing
time
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Processing Time
Processing time based on the value of the
ProcTime attribute
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Batching
Batch block and dialog window
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Batching
Preserving uniqueness when batching a purchase
order and an agent
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Batching
Unbatching items with an Unbatch block
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Batching Resources
Model that batches patients and nurses
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Activity-based Costing
Cost tab of the Import block
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Activity-based Costing
Model to accumulate cost per unpacked crate
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Activity-based Costing
Dialog of the Cost by Item block
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Cycle Time Analysis
Two operations in series with a Timer block to
measure cycle time
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Cycle Time Analysis
Histogram of cycle times and average cycle time
vs. simulation time
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Model Enhancements
Slider control to set the mean value of an
Exponential distribution
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Model Enhancements
Meter connected to the utilization output of
Labor Pool block
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Model Enhancements
Clone layer tool
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Case Software Support
Documented software support process
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Case Software Support
Simulation model of actual process
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Case Software Support
Simulation model of documented process
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Case Hospital Admissions
Schematic representation of the hospital
admissions process
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Case Hospital Admissions
Extend model of the current admissions process
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Case Hospital Admissions
Arrivals block from the admissions model
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Case Hospital Admissions
Admissions block from the admissions model
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Case Hospital Admissions
Registration and Lab block from the admissions
model
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Case Hospital Admissions
Rooms block from the admissions model
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Case Hospital Admissions
Histogram of cycle times for type 1 patients
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Case Hospital Admissions
Extend model of the redesigned admissions process
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Exercise 1
Measuring cycle times of different types of jobs
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Exercise 2
Investigating the effect of pooling resources
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Exercise 4
Assessing process performance
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Exercise 7
Priority queues
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Exercise 8
Flowchart for Exercise 8
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Project X-ray Process
Flowchart for the X-ray process
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Project An Assembly Factory
Flowchart of the production process for the
Assembly Factory