Creating Detailed Models of Complex Systems Using Simio Templates | Simio

Since its inception, simulation modeling has been applied to solving complex operational problems using analytics. Gaining the insight simulation models provide starts with developing models of the system to be analyzed. More complex systems require extensive modeling and this is where many developers run into one of the most common problems – capturing the system’s complexities.

The process of developing models of complex systems from scratch is time-consuming and prone to error. Developers struggle with integrating multiple constraints, operational logic, and rules within designed models and complaints concerning these challenges have been well-documented. At the just-concluded Simio Sync Practical Applications event, the challenges with building simulation and digital twin models were discussed in detail. The discussion focused on eliminating these general modeling challenges through the use of a new Simio feature – Templates.

Understanding Templates and their Benefits

Templates are defined as data schemas containing 70 to 80% of the requirements needed to build complex models. The Data schemas leverage common manufacturing data models to ensure the developer does not have to build complex models from scratch. This means when developing complex models on Simio, you can choose to leverage the use of templates to reduce 80% of the time-consuming process associated with modeling from scratch.

Simio’s definition of templates highlights its most important benefits – reduced modeling time, simplifying complex modeling activities, reducing human error, and integrating best practices, and agile modeling.

• Reduced Modeling Duration – Speeding up the modeling process is a crucial requirement when developing models for time-sensitive applications. The use of templates provides a framework with 80% of the related rules and logic already in place. The end-user can then extend the capabilities of the template or customize the templates to meet specific modeling requirements within a shorter duration compared to developing a model from scratch.
• Simplifying Complex Modeling – The ability to extend templates to support similar operations and integrate new rules, operational logic, and capacities simplifies the modeling of complex models. With a base data-schema in place, additional capabilities can be added using a drag and drop approach. The drag and drop approach involves dragging models into the layout and entering their respective parameters.
• Reducing Human Error – Time-consuming, labor intensive tasks create an environment where errors occur. The process of developing rules, logic, and integrating multiple constraints falls into the category of repetitive activities that may be executed poorly. Error in the modeling processes skews results and may require extensive troubleshooting to get things back on track. The use of templates provides a foundation that can be built upon thus reducing time spent on modeling complex simulation and digital twin models.
• Leveraging Agile Modeling and Best Practices – Simio templates make use of common manufacturing data schemas that are the benchmark data for the manufacturing industry. This means templates are developed using optimized data sets that can represent the manufacturing processes within your industry. Hence, you start your modeling task with optimized data and can leverage agile modeling processes by including additional constraints and parameters at need.

Getting Started with Simio Templates

Simio comes with template features that offer the aforementioned benefits to simplify and speed up the design of simulation and digital twin models. These templates include the “Mix, Fill, Tank, Template” and the “Make, Transport, and Replenish Template.

The Mix, Fill, Tank Template is used to automatically generate upstream and downstream resources. The template takes into consideration limited buffer spaces such as tanks in-between upstream and downstream resources. It also captures crucial constraints such as tank cleaning, limited connectivity, and dynamic dispatching rules to optimize simulation modeling and scheduling results.

At the just-concluded Simio Sync Practical Applications Event, Simio introduced the use of templates and took attendees through its application in a real-world scenario. You can learn more about the Mix, Fill, and Tank Template and how it can be used within the consumer-packaged goods industry and how you can take advantage of it.

The Make, Transport, and Replenish Template is another powerful modeling tool that empowers designers to automatically create and maintain detailed models of complex systems across your enterprise. The template is used to speed up the development of material movement and the material replenishment process in a model. You can see a short video highlighting how this template can be set up as automated mobile robots modeling transport assignments.

Conclusion

Templates are game-changing features that you can leverage to simplify the creation of complex simulation models and improve the accuracy levels of your models. The Make, Transport, and Replenish template, as well as, the Fill, Mix, and Tank templates can be applied to creating complex models across a diverse industrial sectors. Oil and Gas, Warehousing, Consumer – packaged goods, food and beverages, and healthcare item manufacturers can take advantage of Simio’s template features to develop optimized simulation and digital twin models.