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The worlds leading business simulation tool

WITNESS Simulation

Introducing
Simulation ...

WITNESS Simulation
WHAT IS SIMULATION?

The dynamic representation of a

real system by a computer model
which behaves in the same manner
as the system itself
Run your plant before its built

WITNESS Simulation
Imagine

...

Designing and testing a new business process or factory

Demonstrating how a process will operate
Balancing cost and service
Streamlining shift patterns
Evaluating alternative strategies
Demonstrating the before and after
Try before you buy

WITNESS Simulation
Benefits
What if analysis of alternative facility and process designs
Improved plant and resource efficiency
Reduced inventory
Reduced time to market
Improved throughput and service times
Capital investment optimization
Communication of new ideas and concepts

WITNESS Simulation

Simulation models are a dynamic representation of some part of the

real world sufficient to ensure that experiments using this model are
adequately accurate predictors of reality.

What-if?

Measure KPIs
(Key Performance Indicators)

WITNESS Simulation
Selected Key Features of WITNESS

Animated display

Multiple views / windows

Drag & drop model building

Highly Interactive

Comprehensive reporting

Step by step modelling

Powerful Building Block Design

Wide Range of building blocks

Custom Interchangeable Libraries

Inclusion of Graphics, CAD Drawings, Photo and Video formats

Hierarchical Modelling - reuse of model components and sections.

WITNESS Simulation
Selected Key Features of WITNESS

Great linkage to other systems

Direct access read/write to Excel

Direct access to ODBC data sources
email integration for sharing models
input of CAD/graphics from a variety of format including jpg, gif, wmf, dxf, bmp, sdx, etc

wide range of model save formats

html and many other report options

windows look/feel including customisable toolbars

Powerful rules for activity routing and labor allocation

Extended logic for complex control

Integrated optional optimizer module

Integrated optional VR module

..

Why use Simulation ?

Example of a modelling Situation
Two Operations/Processes with 90% efficiency

90%

90%

=?
(No Buffering)

Why use Simulation ?

Overall Efficiency with no buffering

90%

90%

= 81%
(No Buffering)

Why use Simulation ?

Overall Efficiency with infinite buffering

90%

90%

= 90%
Infinite Buffer

Why use Simulation ?

Overall Efficiency with a buffer of 5 tasks/parts
This is the type of question that only simulation can answer

90%

90%

=?
Buffer Capacity = 5

WITNESS Simulation
Automotive Sector
3% output gain from V6 engine plant
all major investment decisions simulated with
WITNESS prior to commitment
500K identified savings since working with
Lanner Group
Private Health Sector
70% increase in productivity
250K p.a. operating cost reduction
volume increase

Central Sheffield University Hospitals

secured 150K additional funding & reduced
operating costs by 70K annually
Finance Sector
300K p.a. operating cost reduction

WITNESS Simulation
Step Improvement in Output of 33%within 7 days
3M

Justification of a New Crane Purchase

British Aerospace

48 % Reduction in Capital Costs

Glaxo Wellcome

Cost Avoidance of 1.4M

Massey Ferguson

Capital Avoidance of 150,000

Motorola Europe

Output of a line increased by 30%

TRW

Work in Progress Inventory halved

BAe Systems

Overtime Costs Reduced by 80-100,000

Barclays Bank Merchant Services

WITNESS Simulation Quantitative Benefits

Capital Justification
/Avoidance

Improve Efficiency

Increase
Capacity
Ability to
Evaluate
how to
Reduce
Operating Costs

Reduce
Work in Progress
Reduce
Lead-Time

WITNESS Simulation Qualitative Benefits

Reduced Risk
Team
Integration
Question
Assumptions

Identify
Benefits Before
Implementation
Greater
Understanding

Improved
Confidence

Better
Communications

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Manufacturing Facility
Example of a manufacturing layout model in WITNESS. Many of this type of
model exist using the extensive WITNESS building blocks of many
types/displays of machines (single, batch, production, assembly, multistation, multi-cycle, floor conveyors (fixed / queueing / gravityfed /
powered, etc), power and free conveyors, buffering (min. dwell, max.
dwell, output position selection, etc), part types,robots,...
Continuous elements are also included in this model - tanks, processors,
pipes and fluids are all catered for and the link to discrete items such as
filling parts (cans, etc).
The displays here are all WITNESS generated in the capable screen editing
options - models such as this can also benefit from the direct import of CAD
backdrops.

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Call/Contact Center Model

Typical example of a call or contact center model in WITNESS
Typical measures of performance include percentages of calls answered
within 10 seconds, the number of abandoned calls, etc.
Whatever the logic used to route calls to different team structures, holding
queue patterns, etc the powerful building blocks of WITNESS can model the
sequence of events set up in the ACD system.
The model can easily include details such as shift patterns, staff skill levels,
customised call arrival patterns, call priorities, call out work,etc - all the
features needed to model modern call centers.

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Manufacturing Maintenance Model

Example of model using paths in WITNESS
Important where timings for travel are significant
Classic simulation model where breakdown rates and resourcing create
complex situations where only simulation can offer a way to the solution

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Goods Receiving/Transportation Model

This model is typical of many built in WITNESS to look at the capability of facilities to
match planned arrival profiles or schedules of truck, plane, ship arrivals over a period.

The model uses an interarrival distribution time for trucks to simulate random arrivals
with an expected mean. This can easily be extended to use the arrival profile options to
test schedule options.

The facilities include 5 bays, a workforce of 2 men and a simple measure of performance
is shown turnaround time (or service time) of the site for each truck.

The model , as is typical, includes options to experiment with assignment of labor in

different ways, different shift patterns and different truck/bay allocation procedures.

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Aircraft Spares Supply Chain

This model is typical of many built in WITNESS to look at the timing of part failures and
the maintenance/despatch process for repair.

It illustrates the usefulness of hierarchy in simulation modelling systems in enabling the

easy addition of an extra airfield through the cloning of an existing module in the model.

Typically key results for this type of model are the service times to keep equipment
operational and the number of times that stockouts occur for systems where spare parts
are kept in stock.

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Warehousing Model

This model is typical of many built in WITNESS to look at the design, layout and
operational capability of a storage facility

Models can model one particular area of a warehouse, for example a picking area or AGV
system or can be built to model the whole of an operation.

The example model shows a high bay storage area with dedicated storage and picking
cranes in each aisle, conveyor feeds from manufacturing and to despatch, an AGV
system transfering to and from the storage area and a sortation lane system grouping
orders into loads for the despatch area.

The model makes extensive use of the tracks and vehicles constructs available in
WITNESS

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Jetty Model

Many models of harbors and jetties are built in WITNESS. In the same way models of
road and rail unloading and loading facilties.

This simple version of such a model looks at a harbor with a lock entry which can only be
used at certain tidal times. The lock illustrates one use for continuous elements in
simulation models with fluid definitions and fill rates, action levels, etc.

Unloading is limited by the number of cranes available. Queueing is limited by the space
available.

Common models in the oil&chemical industries expand this type of model with detailed
modelling of onshore facilities for pumping and storage, etc.

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Supply Chain Model

Many useful simulation models are build which include the flow of information as well as
goods.

A supply chain model such as this is a good example where the ordering process as well
as the manufacture and transport vitally affects the service performance of the chain.

This is an example from a generic model whereby the user can specify a specific node
configuration and the logic options are all predefined.

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Bus Depot Model

This model of a bus depot is typical of a number of different road modelling examples
whereby detailed road positions and interactions of vehicles are modelled either in a
public area or on-site at a manufacturing (for supply vehicles) or storage/despatch
facility (manufacturing/retail,etc).

Road control facilities are included such as traffic lights and one-way systems and in this
case the bus stand arrangements and configuration.

Later in this presentation optimization in conjunction with simulation models is included.

This model is an example where this has been successfully used to determine the best
allocation of busses to stands to minimize congestion and delay.

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

Production Model - Chemical Industry

This model is typical of many built in WITNESS to look at the design, layout and
operational capability in process industries

WITNESS is used extensively in Chemical, Oil, Pharmaceutical and other industries

where processes involve fluids, tanks and pipes.

Typical measures include the storage capability required in different tanks or silos in
production, throughput/production achievable, utilisation of equipment and
production/maintenance staff.

Other typical models in the oil industry include reliability modelling whereby complex
networks of pipes are assessed for their delivery capability.

WITNESS Simulation - Model Examples

WITNESS Simulation

The worlds leading business simulation tool