Marc, As I mentioned in a previous email to TechNet, I have started using ProModel and find it useful for the following: -customer presentations: We have to show our customers that we have thought about how we would go about manufacturing their products and that we can handle the required rates. This software and its graphics are a good presentation tool. You can actually see the parts moving from station to station, accumulating in batches if you like, travelling down conveyors and exiting the system as completed product. We have had some customers come back to us requesting information on ProModel so that they might acquire it. -dedicated lines: lines where you are producing one or a few types of products are easy to model and can provide you useful information such as how many units you can produce given certain machine times and labor resources. You can easily play a lot of what if games: what if process A takes 8 minutes instead of 10? What if I double the number of workstations for a particular process? How does the arrival of goods from other areas or companies impact my production? What if I go to two shifts instead of one or alter the length of the shift? We modelled one assembly flow where the senior process engineer thought that two dicing saws would need to be purchased. The simulation showed that one dicing saw was never used and that the other one was not fully utilized. Savings like not purchasing an unnecessary additional piece of equipment is one of the ways that this software will pay for itself. My impressions are that for a scenario where you are building lots of different boards, the modelling will get difficult and may not be worth the effort. This program is not designed to balance out component placement between in-line pick and place machines (I know that there are several other pieces of software specifically designed to do that). It will not reduce set-up time except for the case where you can see what happens if you build two lots of product A before changing to build one lot of product B, rather than build one lot of A, then one lot of B and then another lot of A. If you have a demo, it will let you do a limited amount of modelling. It will allow you to view some already created models to see what is possible. As far as creating your own models, I highly recommend taking their 3 day beginners course (and if you are serious enough, their 2 day advanced course). Looking at the software before the class baffled me, but now I understand what is going on. Also, FYI, they are having a users conference complete with training classes in Wyoming (admittedly a bit of a trip for you) towards the end of September. I am sure that they have information on that on their web site (www.promodel.com). I am not familiar with other simulation software so I can not offer a comparison. Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me off-line if you have further questions. -Steve Steven K. Lustig Process Engineer EMS Technologies, Inc. Norcross, GA (770) 263-9200 x4714 [log in to unmask] >---------- >From: Marc O. Bituagan[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 1998 11:53 AM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: [TN] Simulation > >'Lo everyone, > > It's been a slow workweek so far and I'm stumped. Hey, if anyone out >there is familiar or has used a simulation software called Pro-Model >ver. 4.0, please do share your experience with it (pleasant or >otherwise). My boss has asked me to evaluate the software(obtained >the evaluation copy) and is considering buying the package. Answers >to the following will certainly be a BIG HELP: > What can Pro-Model do in the realm of electronics >manufacturing?(i.e.determination of workforce size, set-up time >reduction,etc.) > What advantages does it offer over the other conventional modelling, > simulation, scheduling tools? > Is there a better alternative? Can the software "pay" for >itself? > and finally...... If I won't use it, will it mean "certain >death"? > > Sure could use your input on this. > > Enjoy what's left of the week! > > Marc > >################################################################ >TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c >################################################################ >To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following >text in the body: >To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> >To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet >################################################################ >Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section >for additional information. >For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or >847-509-9700 ext.312 >################################################################ > > ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################