Introduction to

Simulation and
Modeling

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System Definition
(High-Level Flow Chart)

(Lecture 14)

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High-Level Flow Chart

 A high-level flow chart helps the practitioner obtain a fundamental

understanding of the system logic.

 It graphically depicts how the major components and events

interact.

 It also illustrates how the input and output data play a role in the
model.

 The chart is intended only to provide general information as to how

the process flows.

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols
 There are four basic flow chart process symbols. These are the:

 1. Oval

 2. Rectangle

 3. Tilted parallelogram

 4. Diamond

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols
(guidelines)
 The first guideline is that the symbols should be arranged so that

the sequence of processes flows downward and to the right as

much as possible.

 The second guideline is that any given symbol should have only one
connecting path into the symbol and only one connecting path out of
the symbol.

The only exception to this rule is the decision icon, which has
two different output paths.

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols (oval
symbol )
 The oval symbol is used to designate both the start and stop processes.

 The stop or end symbol is normally the last symbol present on the flow
chart.

 Even if the process has several different possible paths, there should still
only be one stop or end symbol

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols (oval
symbol )

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols (Process
Rectangle)
 The rectangle is used to represent general-purpose processes that
are not specifically covered by any of the other flow chart symbols.

 The process rectangle is normally entered from the top or the left
side.

 It is exited from either the bottom or the right side.

 In a high-level flow chart, a service time delay would be a common

example of a process

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols (Process
Rectangle)

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols (Input /
Output Tilted Parallelogram)
 The tilted parallelogram is used for processes that involve some sort
of input or output.

 The tilted parallelogram is normally entered from the top or the left
side

 It is exited from either the bottom or right side.

 An example of an input process symbol in a simulation program flow

chart would be the creation or arrival of entities into a system.

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols (Input /
Output Tilted Parallelogram)

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols (diamond)

 The diamond is used to represent a decision in the flow chart logic.

 The diamond has one input connector but two output connectors.

 The output connectors must specifically be labeled as either true or

false or yes or no.

 Because these responses are mutually exclusive, only one output

path may be taken at a given time.

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols (diamond)

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Standard Flow Chart Symbols)

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Sample Flow Chart

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Sample Flow Chart

 The sample flow chart represents a simple system example

 This is a single-queue, single-server system.

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Sample Flow Chart

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Components and Events to Model
 In a small independently operating system, there is little question
that the practitioner should attempt to model the entire system.

 However, in a large interrelated system, it may be very difficult to

identify which parts of the system to model.

 On one hand, the model must contain enough content so that the
behavior of the system is properly understood.

 On the other hand, only a limited amount of time is available for

most projects.

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Components and Events to Model
 Service models and manufacturing system models will naturally
contain different system components.

 Some more common system components that may be modeled

include (Kelton et al., 2002):

 Personnel

 Machines

 Transporters

 Conveyors

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Components and Events to Model
(Personnel)
 In service-related systems, personnel may include:

 Sales clerks

 Customer service representatives

 In manufacturing systems, personnel would probably include:

 Machine operators

 Material handlers

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Components and Events to Model
(Machines)
 Machines in service-related systems may include:
 Computer or network systems
 Automatic teller
 Ticket machines
 Scanners
 X-ray machines

 Machines in manufacturing-related systems could include:

 Computer numerically controlled mills
 Machining centers
 Lathes
 Turning centers
 Robots

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Components and Events to Model
(Machines)
 A transporter is any kind of vehicle that is used to move entities from
one location to another.
 In transportation service models, transporters may include vehicles
such as
 Airplanes
 Buses
 Trains

 In manufacturing-related systems, there may be

 Forklifts

 Hand trucks

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Components and Events to Model
(Machines)
 Note that there is also a distinction between free-path and fixed-path
transporters.

 Free-path transporters can go between different locations without respect to

following a specific path or the presence of other vehicles.

 A typical example of a free path transporter is a fork lift. Fork lifts typically can
move between points without a specific track.

 Forklifts can also go around other transporters because they are not restricted to
movement on rails.

 On the other hand, fixed-path or guided transporters must follow a specific rail
or track and can be affected by the presence of other vehicles.

 A typical example of a fixedpath transporter would be a rail train.

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Components and Events to Model
(Conveyors)
 Conveyors are devices that can move entities between locations without the
conveyor device itself physically moving.

 The conveyor actually physically stays in the same place, but the belt or
rack does the moving.

 Examples of conveyors in service systems include:

 Moving sidewalks

 Escalators

 Chair lifts

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Processes and Events
 The practitioner must also decide what system events should be
included in the model.

 Service System Processes and Events

 Arrival of customers at a processing area

 Customer queue behavior
 Service processing
 Payment for the goods

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Processes and Events (Banking
Service Processes)
 In a service-type system such as a bank, there are actually many
different types of transactions that the
 customer may require.

 Deposits
 Withdrawals
 Money orders
 Cashier’s checks

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Events Not to Model
 The practitioner may deliberately elect not to model some events.

 These would typically include events with very limited impact on the
system outputs.

 Limited impact may be the result of the small importance or

infrequent occurrence of the event.

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Data to Be Included in the
Model
There are input data and output data.

 Input data are what drive the system,

 Output data are what result from the system.

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Input data

 A fundamental concept in this process is to break down the types of

data into as many different independent types as possible.

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Types of Input Data
 There are two general categories of input data.

 The first category is related to the concept of system entities.

 Common examples of entities include customers, passengers, and job
orders.
 Typical types of input data associated with entities are the time between
arrivals to the system, the number of entities in an arrival, and entity
processing times for various operations.

 The second category involves system resources.

 System resources are the parts of the system that process the system
entities.
 Common examples of system resources are personnel, manufacturing
equipment, and vehicles.
 System resource input data include break times, breakdown or failure rates,
operating capacities, and movement speeds.

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Output Data
 Output data are generally used to measure performance levels.

 These measures of performance are used to validate the model and

conduct model experimentation.

 Average System Time

 Average Queue Time

 Average Utilization Rates for Multiple Resources

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Sample Flow Charts

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Summary

Any Questions?

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