A Resource is a stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. An operation will require the use of one or more resources in order to perform the transformation. These resources include raw materials, subassemblies, components, labor, machines, information, intelligence, energy, fuel, etc.
In the context of modeling a production system in the Production Optimizer, a resource refers to the labor, machines and equipment required to perform an operation. Thus, the Resource Pool represents the workforce (including machines) available to the production system to perform its work.
The difference between the Resource Pool and the list of Process Centers lies in their functionality. The Analytical Model uses the Process Centers and Work Groups as the means to allocate work centers and people to operations whereas the Discrete Event Simulation uses either the Process Centers or the Resource Pool. If the user desires to allocate multiple resources to a Process Step, the user will need to use the Resource Pool.
Note that only users with access to the Discrete Event Simulation Module will have access to the Resource Pool.
To Create a Resource in the Resource Pool:
- Open the Data Entry pane on the left side of the User Interface
- Select Resource Pool
- Select the pen button to open the Resource Pool menu
- Select the + Add button to add a resource
- Provide a name for the resource
- Edit the input fields as necessary
- Select Close to exit the menu
To Edit an Existing Resource in the Resource Pool:
- Open the Data Entry pane on the left side of the User Interface
- Select Resource Pool
- Select the pen button to open the Resource Pool menu
- Edit the input fields as necessary
- Select Close to exit the menu
To Delete an Existing Resource in the Resource Pool:
- Select the appropriate X button on the right side of the menu
Resource Pool Data Element Description
| Data Element | Description | Constraints |
|---|---|---|
| Resource | Desired name of the resource | |
| Number Available | The number of each resource available | > 0 |
| Schedule | The work schedule of each resource | Schedules |
| Use Work Time Period | If this is checked, the work time period defined by Offset, Working Duration, and Non-Working Duration will be used for the resource. Work Time Periods are subject to the Schedule that is assigned to each resource. If a resource begins processing an item during a Working Duration, that resource will continue to process that item subject to its normal work schedule even if the working duration ends and the non-working duration begins. Once the resource releases the item, it becomes subject to the non-working duration. | Check mark |
| Offset (Days) | The number of days until the first working period. A resource using the work time period will wait this number of days from the start of the simulation to begin working. | ≥ 0 |
| Working Duration (Days) | The number of calendar days until the next Non-Working Period. During this period, a resource will remain available to work within the working hours set by the Schedule. Work Time Periods are subject to the Schedule that is assigned to each resource. | ≥ 0 |
| Non-Working Duration (Days) | The number of days until the next Working Period. During this period, a resource will remain unavailable to work within the working hours set by the Schedule. Resources will remain idle during this period. | ≥ 0 |
Consideration for Process Time, Schedule, and Work Time Period
Process Time takes precedence over Working and Non-Working Durations. Consider the following example. This means that as soon a resource begins processing an item, it will finish that item according to normal working schedule regardless of the Work Time Period.
- Process Time = 10 hours
- Offset = 0 hours
- Working Duration = 2 hours
- Non-Working Duration = 24 hours
- Schedule = 1 shift per day, 8 hours per shift, 5 days per week
- Since Offset is set to 0, the resource can begin work at time = 0. As soon as the resource begins processing the first item, the resource will continue to process that item for the next 10 working hours regardless of the Working Duration ending after 2 hours. As soon as the first item is done processing, the resource will observe the Non-Working Duration.
- At time = 0, the resource begins work on item #1
- At time = 8, the resource pauses work on item #1 in accordance with 8 hours working time per shift
- At time = 24, the next shift begins, and the resource starts work back up again
- At time = 26, item #1 finishes processing, and the Non-Working Duration begins
- At time = 52, the resource becomes available to process item #2
As soon as a resource begins processing an item, the resource will continue to process that item within the working hours of its set Schedule, regardless of if the Non-Working Duration has started. A resource will not work during a Non-Working Duration if the Non-Working Duration rendered it idle before it had a chance to start work during the Working Duration.