Use Zones as shared assets in a process flow

Use a Zone as a shared asset within your process flow.


Tutorial resources

These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:


00:03

In FlexSim, a shared asset is an asset that can be utilized by multiple entities or processes within your model.

00:11

Shared assets help you manage dependencies within your process flow and allow you to set specific criteria for the use of the shared asset.

00:19

There are four main types of shared assets, one of which is Zones.

00:23

Zones are commonly used to collect statistics for a group of activities within your process flow.

00:30

Additionally, a Zone allows you to restrict access, so that only a certain number of tokens may be within the zone at a time.

00:37

Here, a model and process flow have been set up to illustrate how a Zone operates.

00:43

In this example, a Zone is used—designated by the red area on the conveyor—to restrict access to only one item in the Zone at a time.

00:52

An item arrives at the first decision point—the start of the Zone—and creates a corresponding token in the ProcessFlow.

01:00

Here, the token stops the item and attempts to enter the Zone.

01:05

In the ProcessFlow, click the Zone to view its properties, where you see that Use Max Content is selected, and a value of 1 is applied.

01:14

This means that only one token can occupy the Zone at a time.

01:19

Back in the model, you can see that when the Zone is occupied, an item stops and waits before entering the Zone.

01:25

When it is empty, the item moves instantly into the Zone without stopping.

01:30

In the process flow, the token waits in the Zone until the matching item reaches the second decision point.

01:37

In the ProcessFlow, click Wait for Event to view these properties, where you see that On Arrival at decision point 2,

01:44

or DP2, the token is sent to the Next Activity.

01:48

Then, it exits the Zone, allowing the next item to enter.

01:52

Zones can also help you keep track of statistics, such as Throughput, Output Rate, and Staytime of the Zone, as shown here on the Dashboard.

02:02

Now you can use a Zone to help manage the flow of items in your process, and to gather important statistics.

Video transcript

00:03

In FlexSim, a shared asset is an asset that can be utilized by multiple entities or processes within your model.

00:11

Shared assets help you manage dependencies within your process flow and allow you to set specific criteria for the use of the shared asset.

00:19

There are four main types of shared assets, one of which is Zones.

00:23

Zones are commonly used to collect statistics for a group of activities within your process flow.

00:30

Additionally, a Zone allows you to restrict access, so that only a certain number of tokens may be within the zone at a time.

00:37

Here, a model and process flow have been set up to illustrate how a Zone operates.

00:43

In this example, a Zone is used—designated by the red area on the conveyor—to restrict access to only one item in the Zone at a time.

00:52

An item arrives at the first decision point—the start of the Zone—and creates a corresponding token in the ProcessFlow.

01:00

Here, the token stops the item and attempts to enter the Zone.

01:05

In the ProcessFlow, click the Zone to view its properties, where you see that Use Max Content is selected, and a value of 1 is applied.

01:14

This means that only one token can occupy the Zone at a time.

01:19

Back in the model, you can see that when the Zone is occupied, an item stops and waits before entering the Zone.

01:25

When it is empty, the item moves instantly into the Zone without stopping.

01:30

In the process flow, the token waits in the Zone until the matching item reaches the second decision point.

01:37

In the ProcessFlow, click Wait for Event to view these properties, where you see that On Arrival at decision point 2,

01:44

or DP2, the token is sent to the Next Activity.

01:48

Then, it exits the Zone, allowing the next item to enter.

01:52

Zones can also help you keep track of statistics, such as Throughput, Output Rate, and Staytime of the Zone, as shown here on the Dashboard.

02:02

Now you can use a Zone to help manage the flow of items in your process, and to gather important statistics.

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