Products
3 Products: 1 Simulation Engine
ProModel’s Simulation Technology, was originally created in the mid-90s and introduced a simple 4-step methodology that allowed any business-process environment to be simulated – not just manufacturing. The software has been continually re-developed ever since, and has evolved so that we are now plugging our simulation technology engine into day-to-day productivity and design tools such as MS Visio and AutoCAD. For the purists, we still have ProModel Optimisation which is stand-alone.
ProModel Process Simulator
We have plugged-in the ProModel Engine into MS Visio to create flowchart simulation. This is the perfect platform for brain-storming and conceptual planning at macro/black box level. Using hierarchies, you can easily drill down into any process to add micro detail. Use Process Simulator to estimate system output, resource utilisation (human & machine), product cycle times and identify key bottlenecks, via the ProModel Output Viewer.
ProModel Optimisation
This is the main, stand alone, ProModel Simulation engine. Create fully flexible new projects with any front end, or you can open and edit any Process Simulator or ProModel AutoCAD project and continue its development. This tool includes SimRunner Optimisation – which uses genetic algorithms to run all of your experimental testing and presents you with a globally optimised solution. This version of ProModel does not live inside AutoCAD, but CAD drawings maybe used as background layouts for your simulation.
ProModel AutoCAD
In 2022, we released ProModel AutoCAD and it was quite a coup because we embedded our simulation engine into the Industry-Standard graphics application - AutoCAD. ProModel’s No. 1 USP has always been “ease-of-use”, and it was important to keep this standard as we introduced this new product. AutoCAD FDU/Asset libraries allows users to access any CAD-designed layout, part, tool, or machine, and these maybe included in your project, so that you can create, visually correct simulations and animations in 2D or 3D. You choose! For ProModel AutoCAD, we add spatial analysis to the results in the Output Viewer.
Overview – Plan/Design/Evaluate
Use ProModel to model highly detailed, complex systems. Import external data sources (CAD, orders, process times/rates) to construct multiple what-if scenarios that, when evaluated, compared and contrasted, will point to a clear way forward for your organisation. Incorporating 3D visualisation, ProModel is an excellent tool to demonstrate not only what your future strategy could look like, but also what it will produce.
Optimisation - SimRunner
ProModel is the only product to feature the SimRunner optimisation tool. Give your model an objective function and a set of variable parameters, and SimRunner, using genetic algorithms, will produce a globally optimised solution.
Features
- No. 1 USP – Easy to use, intuitive, simple 4-step (L.E.A.P) development methodology
- Capture any manufacturing environment (end-to-end)
- Full data integration (CAD, product flow and process rules, asset availability/reliability, resource allocation, inventory)
- Model "Unknown Unknowns" (lateness, failure, process variation)
- Powerful analytics allowing you to make real decision, based on factual data
- Supply chain – Logistics | Warehouse - Distribution systems
- Resource demand, Capacity, Utilisation, OEE. | Resource allocation | Skills-based roster & shift planning
- Test inventory policies (min, max triggers, SAP detail)
- Experiment with different production schedules – day-to-day or week-to-week scheduling tool
- Measure throughput, cycle time, lead time performance. Highlight bottlenecks, constraints and queues
- 3D Visualisation & Animation
Quickly build spatially accurate layouts and process simulation models simultaneously, all within AutoCAD, using Factory Design Assets and ProModel AutoCAD Add-in.
Simulate the scale model directly in AutoCAD with the click of a button.
View results in the Output Viewer and easily make, test and validate layout process changes in AutoCAD.
Finalize the model, then view it in 3D with Inventor and ProModel 3D Animator.
Features
- Dynamic Value Stream Mapping
- High level process planning
- Continuous process improvement
- Business process analysis / Workflow analysis
- Lean six Sigma “Virtual Kaizen”
The “ProModel” engine is embedded into Microsoft Visio to create Process Simulator.
It is a true plug-in for MS Visio, meaning there is no need to import the process map, eliminating any loss of data.
It is a great addition to the desktop of any Visio end-user because it encourages ‘blue-sky- thinking’ to quickly evaluate future scenarios that exhibit elements of uncertainty. Typically this would be difficult to ‘model’ in Excel but Process Simulator's multiple run analysis will provide you with definitive answers and confidence levels for uncertain or ambiguous details.
As with ProModel, external data is imported seamlessly allowing your models to be incredibly flexible and the built-in scenario manager allows you to evaluate almost any scenario.
Process Simulator will identify key constraints at a macro level and predict system throughput, process WIP and entity cycle times.
If the project progresses beyond ‘blue-sky’-you can easily expand detail using hierarchies, or even transfer to ProModel and add spatial detail.
