To get the most out of your simulation, it’s essential to accurately model resource usage and costs.
By defining the type and quantity of resources, you can simulate how tasks use or replenish resources during execution, creating more realistic scenarios and supporting better decision-making.
By setting fixed and unit costs for each resource, you can capture a more complete view of the financial impact, helping to optimize resource allocation and understand the overall cost structure of your processes.
The Definitions panel lists the resources you added and assigned while mapping the process. It’s where you set the total quantity of each resource that will be available throughout the entire process, ensuring that you have the necessary resources in place for allocation during task execution. It’s also where you define fixed and unit costs for each resource.
The Parameters panel is where you allocate resources to specific tasks within your process. Here, you define how many resources are required for each individual task.
You can define whether a resource is Required or Produced|Consumed.
Required resources represent the total number of units available for allocation across the entire process. These resources are temporarily allocated (borrowed) during task execution and returned to the pool once the task is complete.
Produced|Consumed resources specify whether a task produces (adds to) or consumes (subtracts from) the available quantity of a resource during execution. This makes it possible to simulate dynamic scenarios, such as replenishing stock or consuming materials, for a more realistic view of resource availability over time.
To select the resource type:
In the Definitions panel, in Resources, select a resource.
In the dialog box that opens, in Type select Required or Produced|Consumed.
If you selected the Required type for a resource, you can define how many units are available for allocation across the entire process and how many are allocated to specific tasks. Use this option for resources that are temporarily allocated by tasks and returned to the available pool once the task is complete.
You can also set fixed costs and unit costs for required resources to capture their financial impact.
Specify the total number of units for each resource that will be available for allocation across the entire process.
You can define a default value or associate a specific number of resources to a calendar.
Quantities are expressed as a positive whole number.
In the Definitions panel, in Resources, select a resource set to Required type.
In Quantity, click
Click the current setting and enter the quantity.
Allocate the specific number of resources required for each task. By setting the exact quantity need, you ensure that your simulation accurately reflects the resource demands of each task.
Quantities are expressed as a positive whole number.
Select a task.
In the Parameters panel, in Required resources, click the current setting.
In the dialog box that opens, enter the quantity.
Make sure the quantity doesn’t exceed the total number of available resources.
If you select the Produced|Consumed type for a resource, you can model how tasks replenish or deplete resource availability during execution. This allows for more realistic simulations where resources change dynamically over time.
For each task, you can specify how many resource units are produced (added to availability) or consumed (subtracted from availability) every time the task is executed.
For example, if a resource represents a stock of 20 boxes and a task produces 2 boxes per execution, the available quantity increases by 2 each time the task runs, with no predefined maximum. Similarly, if the task consumes 2 boxes per execution, the available quantity decreases by 2 each time until it reaches zero - tasks can’t consume more resources than are currently available.
You can also set fixed costs for these resources.
Specify the total number of units for the resource that are initially available for allocation across the entire process.
In the Definitions panel, in Resources, select a resource set to Produced|Consumed type.
In the dialog box that opens, in Quantity, click
Click the current setting and enter the quantity.
Set how many resource units are produced or consumed by a task each time it is executed.
Produced resources increase the available quantity of a resource each time the task runs. There is no predefined maximum—production continues every time the task is executed.
Consumed resources decrease the available quantity of a resource each time the task runs but can’t exceed the number of resources currently available. If a task requires more resources than are available, it will wait until enough resources become available before proceeding. Once availability reaches zero, no further resources can be consumed.
To define quantities:
Select a task.
In the Parameters panel, in Produced resources or Consumed resources, click
Click the current setting and enter the quantity.
You can set costs for both types of resources to better reflect the financial impact of their usage in the simulation.
Required resources support both fixed and unit costs, while Produced|Consumed resources only support fixed costs.
Fixed costs represent one-time expenses that are incurred each time a resource is used, regardless of how long the resource is used. For example, a setup fee for equipment or a flat overhead cost associated with using a particular resource.
You can set a default value or associate resource costs with a calendar.
You set the base unit of currency in the simulation settings panel.
In the Definitions panel, select the resource.
In the dialog box that opens, in Fixed costs, click
To set the parameter value, click the current setting.
In the dialog box that opens, select the type of fixed cost and set a value.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Fixed | Specify the value as a real number. |
| Distribution | Every distribution has its own specific parameters. Select the distribution that best serves your purpose. |
Unit costs are ongoing expenses that fluctuate depending on how long a resource is used. For example, the cost could be calculated per hour of labor for a staff member or per unit of material consumed during resource utilization.
You can set a default value or associate resource costs with a calendar.
You set the base unit of currency in the simulation settings panel.
In the Definitions panel, select the resource.
In the dialog box that opens, in Unit costs, click
To set the parameter value, click the current setting.
In the dialog box that opens, select the type of unit cost and set a value.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Fixed | Specify the value as a real number and the time unit (per millisecond, second, minute, hour or per day). |
| Distribution | Every distribution has its own specific parameters. Select the distribution that best serves your purpose. |
Select the element.
In the Parameters panel, select the current setting.
In the dialog box that opens, make your edits.
Click