๐ฏ [Challenge #01 – Walkthrough] How Can We Improve Our First Simulation Model?
In this video, we build the process model introduced in Challenge #01, define processing times, and run a simulation to analyze throughput and identify bottlenecks.
๐ Here's a blog version summarizing the key points from the walkthrough.
๐ฆ Process Model Configuration
The model consists of a simple serial line:
Source → Station_A → Station_B → Station_C → Station_D → Drain
- 4 stations connected in sequence
- Users can define names and processing times for each station
- Flow is connected via Connectors
โฑ Example: Processing Time Settings
ProcessProcessing Time (sec)
| A | 50 |
| B | 55 |
| C | 60 |
| D | 45 |
- Simulation Time: 28,800 seconds (8 hours)
- No initial WIP
- Buffers are unlimited
๐ Simulation Summary
- Total Output: ~XX units (actual number available in the video)
- Bottleneck: Station C (highest processing time, 100% utilization)
- Improvement Ideas:
- Reducing Station C’s processing time from 60s → 55s increases throughput
- Alternatively, slightly adjusting other stations can help balance the line
๐ Analysis Highlights
- A hands-on way to see how processing time impacts bottlenecks
- Overall throughput is limited by the slowest station
- Even simple models can behave very differently depending on the configuration
๐ฅ Watch the Video
https://youtu.be/TNnuBirvBYY?si=B3vAskspBguHqXjf
๐ก Conclusion
This exercise starts from a basic model and walks through improving throughput by adjusting processing times and identifying bottlenecks.
In the next challenge, we’ll move on to more complex setups like parallel processes and WIP constraints. Stay tuned!