Students enrolling in the Arena Simulation Software Public Course should have a basic understanding of statistics and probability. Students receive a bound workbook containing course notes, example problems (providing step by step instruction) and workshop problems. Solutions to the example and workshop problems are provided during the course.
Day 1 - Introduction to Simulation
Your first day begins with an introduction to simulation and the Arena modeling methodology. Next you'll apply these fundamentals to a mini-project, so that by the end of the day, you will have achieved your first successful application of simulation. Using Arena's integrated tools and flowchart modeling environment, you'll build a graphically animated model, select appropriate distributions from empirical data, and perform a statistical analysis of model results.
Section 1: Introduction
A basic overview of course contents and a review of discrete event simulation is covered.
Section 2: Introductory Concepts and Modules
- Basic simulation concepts of entities, resources, and queues
- Commonly used Arena modeling constructs such as: Create, Seize, Delay, Release, WIP, Assign, Decide, and Dispose logic modules as well as Entity, Resource, and Variable spreadsheet modules
- Scoreboard animation
- Stations and Routes to define and represent animated movement. These modules and concepts are used in a loan process example and in a chapter ending workshop.
- Introductory Concepts Workshop
Section 3: Resource Sets and Schedules
- Explanation of Arena modeling constructs of Sets and Schedules, which are used for modeling systems requiring limitations on resource availability, cross-utilizing resources, and/or varying arrivals to a system
- Additional animation capabilities including basic resource animation and the animation of the current simulation time and date
- A Department of Motor Vehicles system example is used to further the aforementioned ideas
- Resource Set Workshop
Day 2 - Introduction to Common Modeling Concepts
The fundamentals presented on Day 1 are extended into areas such as modeling complex decision logic, and using Arena's built-in material handling system constructs. Animation and analysis concepts are incorporated throughout the course to reinforce the importance of these aspects of the successful use of simulation. Introduction to the new visualization tools in Arena as well as application-focused consulting and project jump start. You will learn how to build live data dashboards and get an overview of 3D animation in Arena.
Section 4: Making Decisions with Simulation
The Making Decisions with Simulation section further explains the outputs provided by Arena and how the outputs can be used to compare varying systems. This discussion provides an understanding of confidence intervals (half widths) and how to interpret Arena’s half width output.
Terminating and non-terminating systems are explained, as well as run conditions necessary for each of these systems.
Students use models they have built earlier in the course to learn how to perform analysis runs for terminating and non- terminating systems.
Section 5: Process Modeling
More advanced modeling concepts are detailed in the Process Modeling section. Concepts detailed include some of the commonly encountered aspects of systems studied via simulation, including: sets of similar elements (e.g., resources, counters), duplicating entities, grouping entities, assigning unique characteristics to entities, queue ranking, user defined statistics, overlapping resources, resource failures, arrayed variables and expressions, and unconstrained movement of entities through a system.
Modules from the Basic Process, Advanced Process, and Advanced Transfer panels are used to model the aforementioned concepts.
A toy manufacturing process is used in a series of progressive examples. Animating the unconstrained movement of entities is also introduced.
- Process Modeling Workshop – Part 1
- Process Modeling Workshop – Part 2
Day 3 - Material Handling, Entity Flow, External Data Sources
The third day of the course continues to build upon concepts learned in the previous two days and introduces material handling constructs, controlling entity flow and reading and writing to/from external data sources.
Section 6: Advanced Modeling Concepts
- Restricting entity movement, model hierarchy, reading and writing to/from external data sources
- Station Sets and further work with model animation
- A progressive example of a lab facility is developed
Section 7: Material Handling
- Students learn how to model the movement of entities using material-handling devices (e.g., fork trucks, pallet movers, conveyors)
- The differences between free-path and guided transporters is discussed and learned through a manufacturing example
- Students also learn the difference between non-accumulating and accumulating conveyors and practice with an airport check-in example
Arena Supplemental Booklet
This booklet includes an introduction to running a simulation project covering topics such as:
- Advantages and limitations of simulation
- Project management
- Components of a simulation project including the definition, formulation, verification / validation, analysis and recommendation phases
- Contains an example functional specification, as well as relevant papers from the Winter Simulation Conference
Appendices
Appendices covering the following topics may be addressed during the course: Arena User Interface, Visual Designer, OptQuest for Arena, Expression Builder, Commonly Used Variables and Mathematical Expressions, Debugging Tools, Costing, and Statistical Distributions.
Use of Post-course Consulting Hours – 6 hours
In order to make the best use of the 6 hours of consultation, we advise the following:
- The intent of these hours is to assist you with beginning your first simulation project or to advise you on the modeling approach and organization of yourproject.
- Prior to meeting, prepare an outline of topics you would like to discuss with the consultant.
Post-course Consulting Hours may be used upon completion of the course with the following stipulations:
- Consulting will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time with a consultant
- Consulting hours will be used during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm
- Consulting hours expire 90 days after completion of this training course.
- Consulting takes place remotely via telephone and WebEx
- No deliverables are guaranteed. (For example; a completed simulation project, Visual Basic forApplications coding, or completion of major sections of logic.)
- Time is used in minimum 30 minuteincrements
- Off-lin e preparation and/or research time counts toward the consulting hours. Your consultant will keep you informed of the time used and time remaining
- These hours must be used by this training course attendee and are non-transferable
If you have difficulties with a specific model and it has to do with the operation of Arena Simulation Software, this may be covered by your support agreement. In this case, we advise you contact Arena Technica l Support.