Use lists as shared assets in a process flow

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In FlexSim, a shared asset is an asset that can be utilized by multiple entities or processes within your model.

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Shared assets help you manage dependencies within your process flow and allow you to set specific criteria for the use of the shared asset.

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There are four main types of shared assets, one of which is lists.

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Lists can be used to compare and organize assets that are available against criteria that need to be fulfilled.

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Examples include orders coming in that need to be completed, customers waiting for available tables, or other similar processes.

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Here, a model and ProcessFlow have been set up to illustrate how a list operates.

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In the model shown, pallets of type 1, 2, or 3 arrive, acting as orders.

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Each pallet requires three items of the same type to be fulfilled.

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In the ProcessFlow, you can see that an item enters the flow and is pushed to the list.

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Click Push to List to view its properties.

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Here, notice that the Partition ID is set to token.Type.

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This means that when tokens reach the Push to List activity, they are pushed to the list and categorized by type.

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Next, click Pull from List to see that the Request and Require Numbers are both set to 3, the partition ID is set to token.Type here as well,

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and All or Nothing is enabled.

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This means that when a pallet arrives and enters the Pull from List activity, it checks the list to see if three of its type are available.

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If so, the order is fulfilled.

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If not, the request is backordered until the corresponding items are available.

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To check the status of the list and view back orders, in the ProcessFlow, select the List: Components activity.

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In Properties, click View Entries.

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Select the List: Components activity again, and this time, click View Back Orders.

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You can dock both windows in the ProcessFlow panel by dragging and dropping them below the process flow diagram.

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Now, you can see that once three items are paired with a palette of the same type, then all four tokens are released from the list.

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The palette and items are then picked up by the Operator and moved to the Combiner.

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This is one example of a list, however, there are countless ways lists can be implemented to organize a process.

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Use a list to help manage assets that need to be compared and organized, or assets that have dependencies within your process flow.