Warehouse Pick Sequence Simulation
Author: CreateASoft Inc./Friday, October 28, 2016/Categories: Advanced Modeling and Connectivity
- To connect a database to Simcad first switch to the Flow Properties tab
- Select Model Extensions
- Here click Define Database Connection
- New Connection
- Enter a Connection Name (PickSequence)
- Click Define Connection
- Next select MS Office 12.0 Access Database Engine
- Here you will need to manually enter the file location, to do this select the file from your folder, right click and select Properties, shown here
- Copy and Paste the Location of the file into Data Source. Then enter \ (the one above Enter) and then Copy and Paste the file name into Data Source after the last \
- Test the connection, if successful Save the connection and close
- To use the Database we need to create some parameters, go into Additional Properties Definition and under Model Parameters create -
- M_NextSequenceID - Integer
- Then switch to Object Parameter and create four new parameters -
- Obj_PickSeqID - Integer
- Obj_GoingTo - String
- Obj_SKU - String
- Obj_SeqNumber - String
- Switch to the Model Build tab and go into Objects and Containment
- Here create a new object - 'PickSequence'
- Next select Resources and Shifts
- Create a new Resource - 'Picker'
- Set the Available Number to 6
- Click Add and then select OK
- Use the Start Process tool to create 'Start Pick'
- Select Define Object Creation Rules
- Set Object Type to Create to 'PickSequence'
- Check Stop the process after and enter 42. This is how many entries are in the database used.
- Customize and go into Process Extensions/Event Handling
- Here under ObjectActivated Insert a line and make it a DB Interface Action
- Database Name - PickSequence
- Table Name - PickSequence
- Command Type - Select From
- Condition - Where <%M_NextSequenceID%> < ID
- Insert after SQL Command - Distinct top 1
- ID - M_NextSequenceID
- PickSequence - Obj_SeqNumber
- Lastly select Insert New Definition to save changes
- Next use the Generic Process tool to create 'Route Pick'
- Customize and go into Process Extensions/Event Handling
- Under ObjectActivated insert six lines
- Change line 1 to a DB Interface Action and edit:
- Database Name - PickSequence
- Table Name - PickSequence
- Command Type - Select From
- Condition - Where <%ObjPickSeqID%> < ID AND
- PickSequence = '<%Obj_SeqNumber%>'
- ID - Obj_PickSeqID
- SKU - Obj_SKU
- SQL Command - TOP 1
- Change line 2 to a Condition Action and edit:
- Change line 3 to an Expression Action and edit:
- Change line 4 to a Condition Action and edit:
- Change to an ELSE condition
- Change line 5 to a DB Interface Action and edit:
- Database Name - PickSequence
- Table Name - InitialState
- Command Type - Select From
- Condition - Where SKU = '<%Obj_SKU%>'
- Location - Obj_GoingTo
- Set the last line to a Condition Action and edit:
- Set to an END IF condition
- Under ObjectNextProcessDefined insert a line and change it to an Expression Action and edit:
- Set NextProcessToStart = Obj_GoingTo
- Right click 'Route Pick' and select Convert to Base Module, select Smart Module and click Refresh and Edit on the new Module
- Change the name to 'MOD_Rack' and Customize
- Go into Resource Constraints
- Set 'Picker' to 1
- Check both Enable and Hold Resources under Default Override
- Use the Auto-Create Processes tool to create the racks for the warehouse
- Set Number to Create to '30'
- Copy properties from: 'Mod: MOD_Rack'
- Change Number of Digits to '1'
- Create two columns of 15 processes each and select them all, next click Auto-Create Path:
- Path Type to Create - Vertical Double Side
- Path Direction - Top to Bottom
- Connector Location - InBetweenProcesses
- Process path - Bi-Directional
- Create an End Process called 'End' and then connect the model as shown
- Select all of the connection line from 'Route Pick' to 'End'
- Go into Speed/Distance/Capacity and check:
- Speed based on Units/Sec and Enable Auto-Distance calculation
- Change Line capacity to 2
- Customize and go into Resource Constraints:
- Set 'Picker' to 1
- Check both Enable and Hold Resources under Default Override
- Select the connection line leading to 'End'
- Change the Line Capacity to 10 objects in Speed/Distance/Capacity
- Go into Objects and Containment
- Check Enable Object Hover Handling
- Click Define Object Popup
- PickID - Obj_PickSeqID - String
- GoingTo - Obj_GoingTo - String
- SKU - Obj_SKU - String
- SequenceNum - Obj_SeqNumber - String
- Check Display Object Value
- Select Obj_PickSeqID from the list
- Start the simulation and pause it to hover over an object to check the values as described in the Popup
- To keep objects from cluttering 'Route Pick' select the connection line leading into it
- Go into Behavior: Conveyors, Polling, and Carriers
- Check Block if next destination is busy
- Tutorial involves linking Simcad Pro with a DB file; CLICK link to DOWNLOAD the DB file