FlexSim is a discrete-event simulation software package developed by FlexSim Software Products, Inc. The FlexSim product family currently includes the general purpose FlexSim product and FlexSim Healthcare.
History
The Flexible Manufacturing System Simulation Tool named FLEXSIM was developed and described in detail by E. Gelenbe and H. Guennouni in the paper. The work was also described in Hatim Guennoui's PhD Thesis in defended in 1990 at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Informatique, University Paris V The company FlexSim was founded in 1993 by Bill Nordgren, Roger Hullinger, and Cliff King, originally under the name F&H Simulations, Inc. F&H Simulations sold, supported, and conducted training courses for Taylor II simulation software – owned and developed by Holland's F&H Simulation B.V. In 1998, F&H Holland developed the first generation 3D object oriented simulation engine Taylor ED. F&H Simulations assisted with the development of robust objects for use in Taylor ED. In 2000, F&H Holland was acquired, F&H Simulations became independent, and a new simulation product started development under the guidance of Dr. Eamonn Lavery and lead programmerAnthony Johnson. This new 3D simulation product, known now as FlexSim, coincided with F&H Simulations, Inc. changing its name to FlexSim Software Products, Inc. FlexSim 1.0 was released in February 2003 and the software has been in constant development since then. FlexSim HC was later developed to simulate and improve healthcare systems. FlexSim Software Products, Inc. is headquartered in Orem, Utah, USA, with offices in Canada and Mexico. The FlexSim distributor network has offices in 34 countries and serves users worldwide.
Application and uptake
As general purpose simulation software, FlexSim is used in a number of fields:
Manufacturing: Production, assembly line, job shop, etc.
Material handling: Conveyor systems, AGV, packaging, warehousing
Transportation: Highway system traffic flow, transit station pedestrian flow, maritime vessel coordination, custom traffic congestion, etc.
Others: Oil field or mining processes, networking data flow, etc.
Main features
Robust standard objects
FlexSim includes a standard object library, with each object containing pre-built logic and task execution to mimic the resources found in real-world operations. FlexSim objects are defined and programmed in four classes: fixed resource class, task executer class, node class and visual object class. FlexSim uses an object-oriented design.
Logic building tools
The logic for a FlexSim model can be built using very little or no computer code. Most standard objects contain an array of drop-down lists, properties windows, and triggers that allow the user to customize the logic required for an accurate model of the system. FlexSim also includes a flowcharting tool to create the logic for a model using pre-built activity blocks.
Drag-and-drop controls
Users can build the model by dragging and dropping predefined 3D objects into a "model view" to layout and link the model. Experienced users also have the option to specify and modify object parameters and behaviors using FlexScript and C++ programming languages.
