People-Based Models Tutorial

This tutorial task will teach you some of the basics about FlexSim's people-based 3D objects and process flow activities. These objects are designed for simulating business systems that are based around people rather than items. The people-based objects and activities could be designed to simulate customer-facing businesses such as grocery stores, airports, restaurants, customer service centers, or any other system in which customers interact with different elements of the business system. These objects and activities are designed to be as intuitive, user-friendly, and visually engaging as possible.

In this tutorial, you'll simulate a small hospital emergency room. Patients will arrive, register at the front desk, and receive treatment. When you're finished, your simulation model will look similar to the following image:

Tasks Covered

This tutorial will cover the following tasks:

Task 1.1

Use an Activity Set

In this tutorial task, you'll build a 3D model that includes people-based location and staff objects. You'll also learn how to use an activity set to build process flows that will control the logic and behavior of people as they interact with the various objects in the system.

Task 1.2

Create Custom Logic

In this tutorial task, you'll build more of the patient track for the emergency room model to get some additional practice using the people-based objects and activities. In this tutorial task, you'll learn how to build your own block of activities to create custom logic.

Task 1.3

Add a Custom Location Object

In this tutorial task, you'll learn how to add a custom location object by creating a meeting place where two staff members can consult with each other. You'll also add a staff consultation phase to the PatientTrack process flow that will use the new custom object. Lastly, you'll add additional phases to the end of the patient track: a treatment phase, a patient education phase, and a departure phase.

Task 1.4

Add Transport and Equipment Objects

In this task, you'll build out three different possible treatment tracks for the patient. These different treatment tracks will teach you how to use transports and equipment, which are a special class of objects in people-based models. Lastly, you'll change the patient arrival pattern so that patients will begin to arrive at the emergency room at higher rates.