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Modeling and Simulation

A process diagram becomes a process model when it defines how each activity processes transactions and identifies data types such as the resources needed to process the transactions. The Properties dialog box provides the controls to set these behaviors. Models may consist of a single diagram or chart within a document, or a collection of diagrams, each designed to fulfill a different modeling need.

When you run a simulation on your model, each activity behaves according to its assigned properties. The results of a simulation are recorded in a simulation report that helps you determine the impact of each activity (as well as several other factors) on the overall cycle time and cost of the process.

Simulation Analysis

If you are unfamiliar with modeling and simulation concepts, see Simulation Modeling Concepts.

The methodology for analyzing a process with simulation includes these basic steps:

1. Identify goals, objectives, and scope of the project.

2. Gather data on the existing process through interviews and measurements.

3. Build a model of the current process that approximates process performance when simulated.

4. Perform simulation what-if analysis by making changes to the model and running simulations.

5. Present your results and recommendations for potential changes to the current process.

In the above methodology, building a model involves these basic activities:

1. Create the process diagram using swimlanes, shapes, and connector lines. (See Place and Connect Shapes and Add Swimlanes and Child Swimlanes.)

2. Describe the behavior of each activity. (See Define Activity Behavior.)

3. Describe the simulation environment the process lives in through the Scenario. (See Describe the Simulation Environment Through Scenarios)

4. Execute a simulation and analyze the results in the Report. (See Execute a Simulation and Analyzing Results and View Simulation Results.)

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