Anylogic: How to model technical availability of machines?

Question

I'm trying to model a production line with 4 consecutive machines (source > buffer1 > machine1 > buffer2 > machine2 > ...). Each machine has its own specific technical availability (probability of a breakdown) and - in case of a breakdown - a specific duration of the breakdown. The duration of the downtimes are exponentially distributed. Example: Machine 1 has a technical availability of 90% and an average downtime of 2 hours.

• Is it more useful to model the machines as blocks "queue + delay" or as block "service"?
• How can I model the technical availability with the distributed downtime?

Answer 1

Welcome to SOF,

Use a Service block that seizes from individual ResourcePool elements (1 for each machine, with capacity 1). Link each ResourcePool to a Downtime element where you can specify your breakdown characteristics to any level of detail.

Check the help, example models and tutorials on those objects if you are not yet familiar with them.