Rockwell Automation Arena Users Guide - Manual (Page 147)

C • U SING V ISIO AND A RENA
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process map into an Arena simulation model. When the process is complete, you have an
Arena model containing modules from the Basic Process panel that mirror the shapes you
used from the Visio Process Simulation stencil, including the properties and connections
you specified in Visio.
In Arena, you can set the simulation run length on the Run > Setup page. If you do not
define the run length, you can stop the simulation at any time by clicking the Pause
button, then the End button.
To run the simulation, click Arena’s Go button. Your entities will animate the flowchart as
the simulation proceeds, just as if you had created the model directly in Arena. Because
the process is being simulated in Arena with the standard Basic Process modules, you
have all of Arena’s capabilities at your disposal, including reports on all aspects of your
process via the Reports panel selections.
After you have simulated your process, you can save the Arena model (.doe) file to
continue work in Arena, or you can close it to return to Visio for continued modifications.
Because the transfer of the Visio drawing is from Visio to Arena (but not vice versa from
Arena to Visio), it’s usually best to return to Visio. However, you might want to save the
Arena model in case you want to review the simulation or results as you’re refining the
Visio process map.
Simulate other Visio drawings
In addition to simulating process maps using the Process Simulation add-in, you can also
simulate process maps created using other Visio stencils. Arena provides a shape map
editor to define the relationship between the shapes in the Visio stencils and the modules
in Arena’s Basic Process panel. Arena’s online help describes how to use this feature,
which is accessed by opening the Tools > Options menu and clicking on the Visio
Options tab.
Use Visio and Arena in your organization
The combination of Visio and Arena can widen and deepen the reach of process improve-
ment in your organization. You can exploit the accessibility of Visio to ease the transition
from drawing pictures to mapping processes. All types of process constituents—from
those who govern the business to the staff who execute the process—can directly influ-
ence the definition of how the process works now … and what future “to-be” operations
will provide the most dramatic improvements.
Distribute the Process Simulation add-in
The Process Simulation add-in is automatically installed with Arena and is available to all
Visio users, with no additional fees or licenses required. You can distribute the add-in