IBM FileNet P8, Version 5.2.1            

Defining shift schedules

A shift defines a work schedule, a frequency, start time, duration, and other options, such as delayed start. Scenario Properties / Shifts also includes a Resource Allocation page where you can review and edit the resources specified for a shift.

If your system allows default entries (Tools menu, Preferences option), Default_Shift is already defined. You can specify the schedule for this default shift, and you can also create additional shifts as appropriate for your simulation.

To define a shift schedule:

  1. If necessary, select Scenario Properties on the Simulation Designer toolbar, and display the Shifts tab.
  2. Select Default_Shift, or click Add on the Shifts toolbar and enter a name for the shift. The name must be unique in the scenario.
  3. On the Schedule tab, select the frequency for the selected shift: Once, Daily, or Weekly.
    • Select Once if this shift is a one time occurrence.
      Table 1. Shifts scheduled to run 1 time only
      Shift schedule Action
      Date and Time Click the Calendar button to specify the date and time when the shift is scheduled to run.
      Duration Specify how long the shift is scheduled to run.
    • Select Daily if this shift runs several times per day for a specified number of days.
      Table 2. Shifts scheduled to run daily
      Shift schedule Action
      Time Click the Calendar button to specify the time of day when the shift starts.
      Duration Specify how long the shift is scheduled to run.
    • Advanced Settings - Use these advanced options to run a daily shift for a specified number of days.
      Table 3. Shifts scheduled to run daily for a number of days
      Shift schedule Action
      Start From Enter a number specifying how many days to wait after the simulation starts to run this shift.
      Repeat Every Specify how often to run in units of days.
      End After Specify how many iterations to repeat.
    • Select Weekly if this shift runs one or more days each week for a fixed number of hours or minutes each day.
      Table 4. Shifts scheduled to run weekly
      Shift schedule Description
      Time Time when the shift is scheduled to start for the first time.
      Duration How long the shift is scheduled to run. (Be sure to select the units.)
      Weekdays Select the days that the shift is scheduled to run.
    • Advanced Settings - Specify additional options for the start date and limit for how long the simulation is scheduled to run.
      Table 5. Shifts scheduled to run for a specified time period
      Shift schedule Description
      Start From How long to wait after the simulation starts before starting this shift. Enter 0 to indicate that the shift starts when the simulation starts.
      Repeat Every Repeat this schedule at the interval in weeks you specify.

      For example, enter 1 to indicate that this shift runs every week; enter 2 to indicate that this shift runs ever other week.

      End After End after the number of iterations you specify.

      For example, if Repeat Every is set to 2 (the shift runs every two weeks) and End After is set to 3, the simulation ends after three shifts have run. Or after 6 weeks have passed. If this option is blank, no maximum number of iterations is specified.

    To view or edit resource allocation for a shift:
    Tip: Jobs and resources must be defined before you can choose them in this dialog box. Therefore, you might find it efficient to define these items on the Jobs and Resources tabs. Then you use the Resource Allocation table on the Shifts tab to view and adjust the assigned resources for a particular shift.
    1. If necessary, select Scenario Properties on the Simulation Designer toolbar, and display the Shifts tab.
    2. Select a shift.

      On the Resource Allocation tab, any previously defined resources display with their assigned job and job efficiency for that shift.

    3. To modify the list of resources assigned to the selected shift:
      1. Click Modify on the Assigned Resources toolbar.
      2. In the Resource Selection dialog box, move the appropriate resources to the Selected Resources list.
    4. To change the job or job efficiency of an assigned resource:
      1. Select the name of the resource on the Resource Allocation tab, select the name of the resource.
      2. Click the job of the resource, and choose another job or edit the Job Efficiency field.
        • A resource can perform only one job on a particular shift.
        • The job efficiency value represents the relative percentage of the average time to complete the tasks related to a job. If a resource has a job efficiency of 50% for a particular job, and that job description processes a task (a step) with a specified duration of 15 minutes, the simulation shows 30 minutes for that task.
    5. To delete the selected resource, click Delete on the Assigned Resources toolbar.


Last updated: October 2015
scenariopropertiesdialog_shifts.htm

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