Simulate

An Introduction to
Simulation
in the
Manufacturing Industry using SIMUL8 2009
(release 16)

Jim Shalliker
Heybrook Associates

&

Chris Ricketts
University of Plymouth

for

SIMUL8 Corporation

The contents of this introduction to SIMUL8 2009 (release 16) may be copied and incorporated into other teaching material, wholly or in part, for use by staff and students of any educational establishment having a site licence for the software.
Last update 21 July 2009

CONTENTS
1.

BUILDING A SIMPLE SIMULATION MODEL WITH SIMUL8 2008
1.1 An introduction to building simulation models
1.1.1 What is SIMUL8 ?
1.1.2 The Building Blocks
1.1.3 Conventions used in these notes
1.1.4 Starting SIMUL8
1.2 Building your own model
1.3 Gear manufacturing - deterministic simulation
1.3.1 Creating the model
1.3.2 Running the deterministic simulation
1.3.3 Travel times
1.3.4 Results from the deterministic model
1.3.4.1
Work exit point results
1.3.4.2
Queuing time results
1.3.4.3
Queue length results
1.3.4.4
Work center results
1.4 Stochastic effects
1.4.1 Defining distributions
1.4.2 Changing the distributions
1.4.2.1
Random arrivals – Exponential distribution
1.4.2.2
Grinding times – Erlang distribution
1.4.2.3
Washing times – Normal distribution
1.4.2.4
Grind3 times – Empirical distribution (continuous)
1.4.3 Running the stochastic model
1.5 Adding more operations - polishing and inspecting
1.6 Improving the appearance of your simulation model
1.6.1 Zooming in and out
1.6.2 Changing the icons
1.6.3 Changing the format of icon labels
1.6.4 Creating your own icons
1.6.5 Grouping several icons into a single icon
1.6.6 Changing the appearance of work centers to reflect their current status
1.6.7 Changing the appearance of work items as they move through the system
1.6.8 Multiple identical work centers

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