What are factors?

Factors are independent variables which can be changed in a simulation experiment. They are attributes of the objects that are included in the simulation and which influence the simulation run and the results. You can change the values of the different attributes for each object included in the simulation experiment. A particular combination of object and attribute can be used only once. This means that an object can be used multiple times only if it has differing attributes. If an object was added with all attributes it is no longer available on the list of factors. Currently, attribute types with data types Integer, Floating point number, Boolean and Time (constant time in the format value/unit or dddd:hh:mm:ss) are supported.

You can specify a lower and upper limit (Low/High) for each factor. These values are used to calculate the factor variations. Using Step, you specify the increments of the intermediate steps between the lower and upper limits. (quick video)

Example

The values for Low and High are 2 and 7. 2 is specified for Step. Intermediate steps 4 and 6 are calculated. Values 2, 4, 6 and 7 are used for the experiment.

Possible factors

Event

Attribute

Attribute type group

Type

Default value

Frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, annually)

Frequency

Integer (0 to + infinite)

1 per day

Probability

Simulation

Floating point number (0.0 to 1.0)

Depending on the rule type.

Priority

Simulation

Integer (- infinite to + infinite)

None

Comparison value (numeric)

Simulation

Floating point number (- infinite to + infinite)

None

Comparison value (logical)

Simulation

Boolean

None

Time date

BPMN > Timer

Point in time

None

Wait for completion

BPMN > Compensation event attribute

Boolean

None

Function

Attribute

Attribute type group

Type

Default value

Static wait time

Simulation

Time (constant)

None

Orientation time

Simulation

Time (constant)

None

Processing time

Simulation

Time (constant)

None

Frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, annually)

Frequency

Integer (0 to + infinite)

None

Interruptible

Simulation

Boolean

None

Processes to be processed

Simulation

Integer (0 to + infinite)

None

Avg. wait time

Times > Wait time

Time (constant)

None

Average orientation time

Times > Wait time

Time (constant)

None

Average

Processing time

Times > Wait time

Time (constant)

None

Human resource

Attribute

Attribute type group

Type

Default value

Number of employees

Simulation

Integer (1 to + infinite)

1

Priority

Simulation

Integer (0 to + infinite)

None

Technical resource

Attribute

Attribute type group

Type

Default value

Capacity

Simulation

Integer (0 to + infinite)

1

Priority

Simulation

Integer (0 to + infinite)

None

Capacity resource

Attribute

Attribute type group

Type

Default value

Minimum capacity

Simulation

Integer (0 to + infinite)

+ infinite

Maximum capacity

Simulation

Integer (0 to + infinite)

+ infinite

Startup capacity

Simulation

Integer (0 to + infinite)

0