Discrete Event Simulation using Promodel

Discrete event simulation is the imitation of a dynamic system using computer model in order to
evaluate and improve system performance. Simulation provides a virtual method for doing
system experimentation.

Typical applications of simulation include:

 Work-flow planning  Cost reduction
 Capacity planning  Productivity improvement
 Cycle time reduction  Production scheduling
 Staff and resource planning  Line balancing
 Bottleneck analysis  Batch size optimization
 Inventory reduction  Layout analysis
 Throughput analysis  Maintenance scheduling

Simulation analysis is appropriate if the following hold:

 Decisions are operational in nature
 Process is well defined and repetitive in nature
 Activities and events are interdependent and variable
 The cost of simulation analysis does not exceed potential cost reduction
 Cost of simulation analysis does not exceed experimentation on the actual system

Benefits of Simulation approach

 Captures system interdependencies
 Accounts for variability in the process
 Is versatile enough to model both manufacturing and service processes
 Shows behavior over time
 Is less costly, time consuming, and disruptive than experimenting on the actual system
 Provides information on multiple performance measures
 Provides results that are easy to understand and communicate
 Runs in compressed time
 Forces attention to detail in a process

Simulation procedure
Step 1: Define objective, scope, and requirements
Step 2: Collect and analyze system data
Step 3: Build and validate model
Step 4: Conduct experiments
Step 5: Analyze results and develop recommendations
Simulation system elements
Entities, activities, resources, and controls.
Entities Items processed through the
system
Activities Tasks performed in the system
either directly or indirectly on
the entities. Activities consume
time and use resources
Resources May be required for performing
activities. Have characteristics
such as, capacity, speed, cycle
time, reliability, etc.
Controls Controls how, when, and where
activities are performed
 Human/animate (customers, patients,
passenger, etc.)
 Inanimate (Parts, documents, etc.)
 Intangible (calls, e-mail, etc.)
 Entity processing (check-in, treatment,
inspection, fabrication, etc.)
 Entity/resource movement (ride elevator,
forklift travel, etc.)
 Resource adjustment (Machine setups)
 Maintenance & repair
 Human/animate (operator, doctors, etc.)
 Inanimate (equipment, tooling, etc.)
 Intangible (information, power, etc.)
 Production routing sequence
 Work schedules
 Task prioritization

System variability
Type of variability Examples
Activity times Service time, repair time
Event arrivals Time between customer arrivals, time between failure
Quantities Order quantity, batch size, number of workers absent
Decisions Customer routing, accept/reject part, join queue

Random behavior
Discrete distribution Finite number of possible values (number of items in a lot, number of
members in a group, etc.
Continuous distribution A range of values such as a time between arrivals, service time, travel
distance, etc.

System variables
Decision variables Controllable variables, such as number of machines, number of
windows
Independent variable Service time, processing time
Response variables Variables that measure the system performance (metrics)

System performance metrics (Response variables)

Flow time Average time it takes for an entity to be processed through the system
Utilization Percentage of time resources are in productive use
Waiting time Time spent waiting
Queue/inventory levels Number of customers waiting or parts in storage
Throughput Number of customers served, no. of parts produced
Promodel objects

Object Description Important Creating a record

parameters
Entities Anything the model With “New” checked, click a
can process, such as graphic .
parts, customers,
patients.
Locations Fixed place where Capacity and With “New” checked, click a
entities are routed for number of units graphic icon and click anywhere
processing, waiting, in the layout. For a waiting line
decision making, or double click the icon, change
some other activity. object type to “Queue” and set
other parameters.

Arrival Arrival parameters Arrival location,  Click header “Entity” and

for the entities number of objects select the arrival entity.
per arrival, total  Click header “Location” and
number of select the location for arrival.
arrivals,  Type INF for “Occurrences”
frequency indicating no limit for number
of arrivals during the
simulation.
 Enter inter-arrival time
parameter for “Frequency”.
E.g. for exponential time with
mean 2 minutes, enter e(2) min.
Processing Process routing for Process  Click header “Entity” and
an entity Entity, Location, select an entity for processing.
and operation  Click header “Location” and
select a location.
 Click header “Operation” and
type operation logic.
E.g.: wait N(2.4,.5) min
Routing  Click header “Output” and
Output, select an entity for output
Destination, Rule  Click header “Destination” and
select a location
 Click header “Rule” and set up
one or more rules for routing
the entity.
 Click below the last row to
create alternative routing
Example 1: Bank with one teller; Arrival of customers follows exponential distribution with an
average of one customer every 2 minutes. Service time follows normal distribution with an
average of 2.4 minutes and a standard deviation of .5 minutes. Waiting line is limited to 7
customers. Simulate the operation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Let the warm-up period be 2 hours.

Flowchart
Arrival
Entity = Customer Routing Exit
Teller Waiting Line Teller Window
Frequency = e(2) min First 1
Units = 1, Capacity = 1
FIFO, Capacity = 7
Service time: N(2.4,.5) min
Entity record:

Location records

If the location is a queue, change “Queuing for output” to FIFO under the “Rules” tab.
Arrival record

Process and Routing

Routing for Customer from Teller_Waiting_Line

Routing for Customer from Teller

Command: File/View text or File/Print Text
********************************************************************************
* Formatted Listing of Model: *
* P:\public_html\583\Notes\ProModel\Models\BankTeller-1.MOD *
********************************************************************************
* Locations *
********************************************************************************
Name Cap Units Stats Rules Cost
------------------- --- ----- ----------- --------------- ------------
Teller_Waiting_Line 7 1 Time Series Oldest, FIFO,
Teller_Window 1 1 Time Series Oldest, , First

********************************************************************************
* Entities *
********************************************************************************
Name Speed (fpm) Stats Cost
---------- ------------ ----------- ------------
Customer 150 Time Series

********************************************************************************
* Processing *
********************************************************************************
Process Routing

Entity Location Operation Blk Output Destination Rule Move Logic

-------- ------------------- ------------------ ---- -------- ------------- ------- ------------
Customer Teller_Waiting_Line 1 Customer Teller_Window FIRST 1
Customer Teller_Window Wait N(2.4,.5) min
1 Customer EXIT FIRST 1

********************************************************************************
* Arrivals *
********************************************************************************

Entity Location Qty Each First Time Occurrences Frequency Logic

-------- ------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ------------
Customer Teller_Waiting_Line 1 INF e(2) min

Simulation options
Results: Locations
Scheduled Total Avg Time Per Avg Maximum Current %
Name Time (HR) Capacity Entries Entry (MIN) Contents Contents Contents Utilization
Teller Waiting Line 2 7 54.23 10.43 4.72 7 5.03 67.49
Teller Window 2 1 50.20 2.35 0.98 1 0.97 98.30

Results: Location state Multi

Scheduled % Part
Name Time (HR) % Empty Occupied % Full % Down
Teller Waiting Line 2 4.66 78.10 17.24 0

Results: Location state Single

Scheduled % % %
Name Time (HR) Operation % Setup % Idle Waiting % Blocked Down
Teller Window 2 98.30 0 1.70 0 0 0

Results: Failed arrivals

Entity Name Location Name Total Failed
Customer Teller Waiting Line 9.6

Results: Entity Activity

Avg Time In Avg Time In Avg Time Avg Time In
Total Current Qty System Move Logic Waiting Operation Avg Time
Name Exits In System (MIN) (MIN) (MIN) (MIN) Blocked (MIN)
Customer 49.23 6 13.80 0.00 9.09 2.40 2.32

Results: Entity States

Name % In Move Logic % Waiting % In Operation % Blocked
Customer 0 65.0 17.9 17.2
Summary of average results:
Lobby
Total number of customers served = 49.23
Average wait time for exited customers (minutes) = 9.09 + 2.32 = 11.41 minutes
Average length of waiting line = 4.72 customers
Average wait time for all customers including ones still 10.43 minutes
in the bank (minutes) =
% of time waiting line is empty = 4.66%
% of time waiting line is full = 17.24%
Utilization of teller windows 98.3%

Service Level
Total customer arrivals = Total entries at the waiting line + Failed arrivals = 54.23 + 9.60 = 63.83
Service level = Total entries at the waiting line /Total customer arrivals = (54.23/63.83) x 100 = 84.96%

Example 2: Same bank as before, but with two tellers and 40% of arriving customers first sit at
a desk and fill out forms. Time to fill forms takes between 2.5 and 5.5 minutes. Assume total
customers in the bank cannot exceed 13.

Flowchart
Desk
Arrival Capacity = 3
p = .4 Service time: U(4,1.5)
Entity = Customer
Frequency = e(2) min min
Door Routing
Capacity =1 First 1

p = .6 Teller_Waiting_Line
FIFO, Capacity = 7

Routing
First 1
Teller_Window
Units = 2, Capacity = 1
Service time: N(2.4,.5)

Exit
********************************************************************************
* Locations *
********************************************************************************
Name Cap Units Stats Rules Cost
------------------- --- ----- ----------- --------------- ------------
Door 1 1 Time Series Oldest, ,
Desks 3 1 Time Series Oldest, , First
Teller_Waiting_Line 7 1 Time Series Oldest, FIFO,
Teller_Window 1 2 Time Series Oldest, , First
Teller_Window.1 1 1 Time Series Oldest, ,
Teller_Window.2 1 1 Time Series Oldest, ,

********************************************************************************
* Entities *
********************************************************************************
Name Speed (fpm) Stats Cost
---------- ------------ ----------- ------------
Customer 150 Time Series

********************************************************************************
* Processing *
********************************************************************************
Process Routing

Entity Location Operation Blk Output Destination Rule Move Logic

-------- ------------------- ------------------ ---- -------- ------------------- ---------- ------------
Customer Door 1 Customer Teller_Waiting_Line 0.600000 1
Customer Desks 0.400000
Customer Desks WAIT U(4, 1.5) min
1 Customer Teller_Waiting_Line FIRST 1
Customer Teller_Waiting_Line 1 Customer Teller_Window FIRST 1
Customer Teller_Window Wait N(2.4,.5) min
1 Customer EXIT FIRST 1
********************************************************************************
* Arrivals *
********************************************************************************

Entity Location Qty Each First Time Occurrences Frequency Logic

-------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ------------
Customer Door 1 0 INF e(2) min

Results: Locations
Scheduled Total Avg Time Per Avg Maximum Current %
Name Time (HR) Capacity Entries Entry (MIN) Contents Contents Contents Utilization
Door 2 1 61.43 0.02 0.01 1.00 0.00 0.86
Desks 2 3 26.50 3.85 0.85 3.00 0.93 28.32
Teller Waiting Line 2 7 61.50 0.70 0.38 3.53 0.20 5.38
Teller Window.1 2 1 34.90 2.34 0.68 1.00 0.70 68.00
Teller Window.2 2 1 27.47 2.36 0.54 1.00 0.47 54.04
Teller Window 4 2 62.37 2.35 0.61 2.00 1.17 61.02

Results: Location state Multi

Name Scheduled Time (HR) % Empty % Part Occupied % Full % Down
Desks 2 42.68 51.68 5.64 0.00
Teller Waiting Line 2 77.33 22.67 0.00 0.00

Results: Location state Single

Name Scheduled Time (HR) % Operation % Setup % Idle % Waiting % Blocked % Down
Door 2 0 0 99.14 0 0.86 0
Teller Window.1 2 68.00 0 32.00 0 0 0
Teller Window.2 2 54.04 0 45.96 0 0 0
Teller Window 4 61.02 0 38.98 0 0 0

Results: Failed arrivals

Entity Name Location Name Total Failed
Customer Door 0.6

Results: Entity Activity

Avg Time In Avg Time In Avg Time Avg Time In
Total Current Qty System Move Logic Waiting Operation Avg Time
Name Exits In System (MIN) (MIN) (MIN) (MIN) Blocked (MIN)
Customer 61.20 2.30 4.76 0.00 0.27 4.05 0.44

Results: Entity States

Name % In Move Logic % Waiting % In Operation % Blocked
Customer 0 5.35 85.59 9.05

Summary of average results:

Lobby
Total number of customers served = 61.20
Average wait time for exited customers (minutes) = 0.27 + 0.44 = 0.71 minutes
Average length of waiting line = 0.38 + .01 = .39 customers
Average wait time for all customers including ones still in the bank (minutes) = 0.70 + 0.02 = 0.72 minutes
% of time waiting line is empty = 77.33%
% of time waiting line is full = 0%
% of time desks are empty = 42.68%
% of time desks are full = 5.64%
Utilization of teller windows: Window # 1 = 68.0%, Window #2 = 54.04%, Overall = 61.02%

Service Level
Total customer arrivals = Total entries at the door + Failed arrivals = 61.43 + 0.60 = 62.03
Service level = Total entries at the door/Total customer arrivals = (61.43/62.03) x 100 = 99.0%
Example 3: Same bank as in example 2, but with an ATM and a drive-thru window. The
waiting line for ATM is limited to 3 customers. For customers arriving at the lobby, assume
40%-40%-20% for customer directly joining the queue, sit down to fill forms and joining the
ATM waiting line, respectively. The time to complete the ATM transaction follows normal
distribution with mean = 2 minutes, and standard deviation =.5 minutes.

For the drive-through line, cars arrive according to exponential distribution with a mean of 5
minutes. Service time for drive-thru window is triangular with minimum of 1 minutes, mode of
2 minutes and maximum of 5 minutes. There are only two tellers serving the two teller windows
inside the lobby of the bank and the drive-through window. Also, assume only three cars can
wait in line for drive-thru service.

In addition to other statistics, track the number of customers in the bank also.

Flowchart
Desk
Arrival 1 Capacity = 3
p = .4 Service time: U(4,1.5)
Entity = Customer
Frequency = e(2) min min
Door Routing
Increment Capacity =1 First 1
Customers_in_bank
p = .4
p = .2 Teller_Waiting_Line
FIFO, Capacity = 7

ATM_Line Routing
FIFO, Capacity = 3 First 1
Teller_Window Exit
ATM Units = 2, Capacity = 1
Exit Service time: N(2.4,.5) min Decrement
Units=1, Capacity =1
Decrement Service time: N(2,.5) min Customers_in_bank
Customers_in_bank Resources
Shared_Teller = 2 units
Arrival 2
Entity = Car
Frequency = e(5) min DriveThru_Line DriveThru_Window Exit
FIFO, Capacity =3 Units = 1, Capacity = 1
Service time: T(1,2,5) min
********************************************************************************
* Locations *
********************************************************************************

Name Cap Units Stats Rules Cost

------------------- --- ----- ----------- --------------- ------------
Door 1 1 Time Series Oldest, ,
Desk 3 1 Time Series Oldest, , First
Teller_Waiting_Line 7 1 Time Series Oldest, FIFO,
Teller_window 1 2 Time Series Oldest, , First
Teller_window.1 1 1 Time Series Oldest, ,
Teller_window.2 1 1 Time Series Oldest, ,
ATM_Line 3 1 Time Series Oldest, FIFO,
ATM 1 1 Time Series Oldest, ,
DriveThru_Line 3 1 Time Series Oldest, FIFO,
DriveThru_Window 1 1 Time Series Oldest, ,
********************************************************************************
* Entities *
********************************************************************************
Name Speed (fpm) Stats Cost
---------- ------------ ----------- ------------
Customer 150 Time Series
Car 150 Time Series

********************************************************************************
* Resources *
********************************************************************************
Res Ent
Name Units Stats Search Search Path Motion Cost
------------- ----- -------- ------ ------ ---------- -------------- ------------
Shared_Teller 2 By Unit None Oldest Empty: 150 fpm
Full: 150 fpm

********************************************************************************
* Processing *
********************************************************************************
Process Routing

Entity Location Operation Blk Output Destination Rule Move Logic

-------- ------------------- ------------------ ---- -------- ------------------- ---------- ------------
Customer Door Inc Customer_In_Bank
1 Customer Teller_Waiting_Line 0.400000 1
Customer Desk 0.400000
Customer ATM_Line 0.200000
Customer Desk WAIT U(4, 1.5) min
1 Customer Teller_Waiting_Line FIRST 1
Customer Teller_Waiting_Line 1 Customer Teller_window FIRST 1
Customer Teller_window GET 1 Shared_Teller
Wait N(2.4,.5) min
FREE 1 Shared_Teller
Dec Customer_In_Bank
1 Customer EXIT FIRST 1
Customer ATM_Line 1 Customer ATM FIRST 1
Customer ATM Wait N(2,.5) min 1 Customer EXIT FIRST 1
Dec Customer_In_Bank
Car DriveThru_Line 1 Car DriveThru_Window FIRST 1
Car DriveThru_Window Get 1 Shared_Teller
WAIT T(1,2,5) min
Free 1 Shared_Teller
1 Car EXIT FIRST 1

********************************************************************************
* Arrivals *
********************************************************************************
Entity Location Qty Each First Time Occurrences Frequency Logic
-------- -------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ------------
Customer Door 1 0 INF e(2) min
Car DriveThru_Line 1 0 INF e(5) min

********************************************************************************
* Variables (global) *
********************************************************************************
ID Type Initial value Stats
---------------- ------------ ------------- -----------
Customers_In_Bank Integer 0 Time Series
Results: Locations
Scheduled Total Avg Time Per Avg Maximum Current %
Name Time (HR) Capacity Entries Entry (MIN) Contents Contents Contents Utilization
Door 2 1 60.03 0.01 0.01 1.00 0.03 0.63
Desk 2 3 24.53 3.84 0.78 2.93 1.10 26.14
Teller Waiting Line 2 7 48.53 1.09 0.47 3.60 0.20 6.69
Teller window.1 2 1 27.97 2.77 0.64 1.00 0.57 64.46
Teller window.2 2 1 21.40 2.90 0.52 1.00 0.43 51.99
Teller window 4 2 49.37 2.82 0.58 2.00 1.00 58.22
ATM Line 2 3 11.50 0.22 0.03 1.23 0.00 0.87
ATM 2 1 11.70 2.00 0.19 1.00 0.10 19.40
DriveThru Line 2 3 23.37 2.07 0.44 2.47 0.43 14.80
DriveThru Window 2 1 23.57 3.00 0.59 1.00 0.70 59.23

Results: Location state Multi

Name Scheduled Time (HR) % Empty % Part Occupied % Full % Down
Desk 2 44.96 50.33 4.71 0
Teller Waiting Line 2 76.46 23.06 0.48 0
ATM Line 2 97.80 2.10 0.09 0
DriveThru Line 2 71.30 25.31 3.39 0

Results: Location state Single

Name Scheduled Time (HR) % Operation % Setup % Idle % Waiting % Blocked % Down
Door 2 0.00 0.00 99.37 0.00 0.63 0
Teller window.1 2 55.30 0.00 35.54 9.16 0.00 0
Teller window.2 2 41.64 0.00 48.01 10.36 0.00 0
Teller window 4 48.47 0.00 41.78 9.76 0.00 0
ATM 2 19.40 0.00 80.60 0.00 0.00 0
DriveThru Window 2 50.83 0.00 40.77 8.40 0.00 0

Results: Resources
Scheduled Number Avg Time Per %
Name Units Time (HR) Times Used Usage (MIN) Utilization
Shared Teller.1 1 2 36.03 2.46 73.76
Shared Teller.2 1 2 36.57 2.44 74.00
Shared Teller 2 4 72.60 2.44 73.88

Results: Resources states

Name Scheduled Time (HR) % In Use % Idle % Down
Shared Teller.1 2 73.76 26.24 0
Shared Teller.2 2 74.00 26.00 0
Shared Teller 4 73.88 26.12 0

Results: Failed arrivals

Entity Name Location Name Total Failed
Customer Door 0.4
Car DriveThru Line 1

Results: Entity Activity

Avg Time In Avg Time In Avg Time Avg Time In
Total Current Qty System Move Logic Waiting Operation Avg Time
Name Exits In System (MIN) (MIN) (MIN) (MIN) Blocked (MIN)
Customer 59.97 2.43 5.25 0.00 0.83 3.90 0.52
Car 22.87 1.13 5.21 0.00 1.15 2.66 1.40
Results: Entity States
Name % In Move Logic % Waiting % In Operation % Blocked
Customer 0 13.87 76.58 9.55
Car 0 19.34 55.43 25.23

Results: Variables
Avg Time Per Minimum Maximum Current
Name Total Changes Change (MIN) Value Value Value Avg Value
Customers In Bank 120 1.00 0.00 7.27 2.43 2.64

Summary of average results:

Lobby ATM Cars
Total number of customers served = 59.97 - 22.87

Total number of customers in the bank (Lobby +ATM) 2.64 - -

Average wait time for exited customers (minutes) = 0.83 + 0.52 = 1.35 - 1.15 + 1.40 = 2.55

Average length of waiting line 0.47 0.03 0.44

Average wait time for all customers including ones still .01 + 1.09 = 1.10 .01 + .22 = .23 2.07
in the bank (minutes) =
% of time waiting line is empty = 76.46% 97.80% 71.30%

% of time waiting line is full = 0.48% 0.09% 3.39%

% of time desks are empty = 44.96%

% of time desks are full = 4.71%

Utilization of tellers (Overall) 73.88%

Teller 1 73.76%

Teller 2 74.00%

Service level:
Total customer arrivals = Total entries at the door + Failed arrivals = i.e. = 60.03 + 0.40 = 60.43
Service level = Total entries at the door /Total customer arrivals = (60.03/60.43) x 100 = 99.3%

Total car arrivals = Total entries at the drive-through line + failed car arrivals = 23.37 + 1.00 = 24.37
Service level for car arrivals = (23.37/24.37) x 100 = 95.90%
Lobby operation comparison

Summary of average results:

Bank 1 Bank 2 Bank 3
Total number of customers served = 49.23 61.20 59.97 + 22.87 cars

Average wait time for exited customers (minutes) = 11.41 0.71 1.35

Average length of waiting line 4.72 0.38 0.47

Average wait time for all customers including ones still 10.43 0.72 1.10
in the bank (minutes) =
% of time waiting line is empty = 4.66% 77.33% 76.46%

% of time waiting line is full = 17.24% 0% 0.48%

% of time desks are empty = - 42.68% 44.96%

% of time desks are full = - 5.64% 4.71%

Utilization of tellers (Overall) 98.3% 61.02% 73.88%

Teller 1 - 68.00% 73.76%

Teller 2 - 54.04% 74.00%

Service level (% customer able to enter) 84.96% 99% 99.3% (walk-in) &
95.90% (cars)
Example 4: Consider the same bank as in example 3. Suppose that 20% of the arriving customers are
business customers, and the remaining 80% are regular customers. Also, assume that the service time for
business customers will be according to exponential distribution with a mean of 20 minutes and no change in
service time for the regular customers.

Changes needed:
1. Define an entity “Attribute” for Customer Type
2. Define a “User-defined distribution” for the probability of customer type
3. Stamp each customer arrival with the Customer type attribute
4. Code the service time at teller window using Customer Type attribute

1. Define an entity “Attribute” for Customer Type

2. Define a “User-defined distribution” for the probability of customer type

Value = 1 represents business customer

Value = 2 represents regular customer

3. Stamp each customer arrival with the Customer type attribute in the Arrival Table
4. Code the service time in the Process Table at the Teller window location using Customer Type attribute

Code for service time for the two

customer types
 Routing Rule Dialog Box
The Routing Rule dialog box provides methods for selecting an entity's destination after finishing a process. The
Rule heading button in the Routing edit table, brings up the Routing Rule dialog box. The fields of this dialog box
are defined in the following example.

Start new block Check this box to signal the beginning of a new routing block. Checking this box will place a
number in the Blk field for that record.

First Available Routing is to the first available location in the order they are listed.
By turn Routing rotates through the locations in the list.
Until full Routing is to a single location until it is full; then it is switched to the
next location, and so on.
Probability Routing is according to the given probabilities.
User condition Routing is based on the condition provided.
Most available Routing is to the location with most available capacity.
Random Routing is at random.
Longest Unoccupied Routing is to the location that was unoccupied the longest.
If Send Routed based on a SEND request from a location to the destination
location.
If Join Request Selects a location whenever a JOIN request is issued at that location.
Entities routed with the JOIN routing rule are not actually sent to their
destination until a JOIN statement is encountered at the destination
location.
Advanced commands

Three commands for using and releasing resources:

Get/Free
Syntax samples
GET {<quantity>} <resource> {,<priority>} {AND or OR {quantity} <resource> {,<priority>}...}
GET Res1
GET 3 Res1, 5
GET 2 Res1OR 3 Res2
GET Res1, 3 AND (Res2 OR Res3)
Description: Captures a specified number of resources as they become available. A resource captured with the GET
statement is released with a FREE statement. Every GET must have a corresponding FREE or an error occurs when
the entity exits the system.

Use
Syntax samples
USE {<quantity>} <resource> {,<priority>} FOR <time> {AND or OR {<quantity>}
<resource> {,<priority>} FOR <time>... }

USE 2 Res2, 5 FOR 4:23:03

USE 2 Res1 FOR 2.0 min OR 3 Res2 FOR 1.5 min
USE Res1, 3 FOR 1 hr AND (Res2 FOR 5 OR Res3 FOR 5)
Description: Captures a resource or combination of resources as each resource becomes available. Once the
resource has been captured it is used for the specified amount of time, and then freed when the specified duration is
over.

Jointly Get/Free ALL

Syntax samples
JOINTLY GET {<quantity>} <resource> {,<priority>} {AND or OR {<quantity>} <resource> {,<priority>}}

JOINTLY GET 3 Res1,5

JOINTLY GET 2 Res1 OR 3 Res2
JOINTLY GET Res1,3 AND (Res2 OR Res3)
Description: Captures a specified number of resources when that number of resources is available. When capturing
multiple resources, none of the resources will be captured until all are available. The command “Free ALL” can be
used to free all the resources.