Enterprise Dynamics® 10.4 released!

Enterprise Dynamics® 10.4 released!

Are you designing, validating, and optimizing your Supply Chain including specific issues related to manufacturing, (re-)allocation, and logistics?

Enterprise Dynamics® is the industry simulation solution. InControl is happy to announce the release of Enterprise Dynamics® 10.4! Technically improved, more stable and with an increased user-friendliness.

Since the previous release, our developers have worked hard on adding several technical features, improving the user-friendliness and making the software more robust. All this to further increase the workflow, enabling you to create your models even faster.

These improvements are the result of close cooperation between our clients, the end-user of the software, our business partners and our software developers.

The main release highlights are: 

  • Increased reading and writing speed of the Excel ActiveX
  • Increased performance of table and data handling
  • Option to see the planned path for an Advanced Transporter
  • Screenshots in high resolutions now also available for the 3D window
  • Cut-off time of assembler now possible for containers
  • Initialize atom now has an “on load model” functionality
  • User Event atom now can be labelled or provided with a name

Curious what Enterprise Dynamics® can do for you and your company?
Please contact us, or try the software for free.

How Simulation contributes to Liveable, Safe, and Sustainable cities

How simulation contributes to Livable, Safe, and Sustainable cities

Today about 50% of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Expected is, that by 2050 this number will increase to about 68%. Not only the numbers are increasing, but also the needs are getting more diverse. Urban environments are exciting places to live, work and unwind. But how do we combine all of these aspects in a city? These Metropolitan Areas are not only growing fast but also changing continuously. We have to act faster and more adequate to trends and specific circumstances; like ‘greener’ ways of mobility or – relevant as it is still today – meet physical distancing ruling. All the aforementioned affairs come together in the overall question: how do we facilitate the City of the Future? 

Together with its business partners, Accenture Singapore has created its vision for the Future of Cities. These Metropolitan Areas should not only be the economic powerhouses of our world but also livable, safe, and sustainable locations that are by design inclusive to each stakeholder. Accenture Singapore brings together the relevant expertise and the best of class technology in their recently launched Future of Cities Innovation Hub; focusing on Sustainability, Mobility, and Safety & Security. We, InControl, are both happy and proud to announce that our simulation software is contributing to this Singapore Innovation Hub. In this manner, we are not only committed to the jointly created vision of the Future of Cities but strengthen our company mission statement: ‘’To deliver simulation software for a safe and sustainable planet.’’

But… how exactly is simulation contributing to future cities? To design cities’ infrastructures optimally, a thorough understanding of logistical flows is essential. Not only the logistical flow of pedestrians but also related to goods, rolling stock, energy, and even waste. The simulation of these processes and specific dynamics and scenarios provide tremendous information which in turn gives answers to complex, logistical issues. Think of capacity management, urban planning, and safety & security. Not only can simulation be part of the design phase of urban infrastructures, but it also plays a major role in real-time control and planning of operations. Possible congested areas or other (potential) issues related to public safety and security can be foreseen in an early stage, enabling authorities to act adequately and fast.

For simulating these scenarios, Metropolitan areas and City Authorities are visualizing the infrastructure in a so-called ‘digital twin’. However, to make this digital representation as realistic as possible enormous amounts of data are needed. A powerful software platform is key to process all this data of pedestrians, bikes and vehicular (public) traffic flows. InControl’s simulation software platform Enterprise Dynamics® (including Pedestrian Dynamics®) enables authorities to gather, enrich and process data from several sources like mobile devices, road and parking systems, and even weather stations! A digital twin facilitates the optimization of all flows in a city or any other infrastructure, providing information, insights and allowing quantifiable comparison of scenarios. By having this better understanding of pedestrian and other (public) transportation flows in congested areas during both regular and irregular days. The impact of bottlenecks, queues, and unsafe settings during e.g. city (re)development, road construction activities, or sports and other events, can be predicted and limited in an early stage and – even better – be avoided!           

Besides providing an overview of the distinct scenarios for a certain area, the simulation model also provides so-called ‘heat maps’. These maps provide information about the level of services provided in a certain area where not only the safety of pedestrians can be analyzed but also their level of comfort. Via both the simulation scenarios and heat maps, concretely and easily can be determined whether KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are met.

With Simulation Software, InControl is not only contributing to the realization of City and Metropolitan Authorities’ goals but also providing a pleasant, safe, and secure setting for citizens, workers, and visitors. All around the world, for more than 30 years! Would you like to be fully in control of your urban infrastructure? Please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to tell you more about our experiences and expertise. 

For more information, please contact:

Read more about Accenture’s Innovation Hub in this article.

Online seminar Simulation & Education

Online seminar Simulation & Education

Together with Business Partner Integrate, InControl will host an online seminar Simulation & Education on Monday the 21st of March from 14:00 till 17:00 CET.

During this seminar the following topics will be discussed:

  • The role of simulation in Energy systems
  • The role of simulation in education and research at Aalborg University
  • Future developments and releases of Enterprise Dynamics®

The role of simulation in Energy Systems

As modern societies consume huge amounts of energy, which results in a negative impact on the environment, a focus on green energy is vital for our planet. It will be shown that simulation can play an important role in this energy transition.  

The role of simulation in education and research as Aalborg University

Aalborg University is ranked best in Europe within the field of Engineering, the program takes fourth place in the world! During the seminar guest speaker Professor Kenn Steger-Jensen from Aalborg University will explain the role of Simulation in education and research in their study program.

Future developments and releases Enterprise Dynamics®

InControl’s Product Manager, Harry Bunnik will get you up to speed with the latest developments of Enterprise Dynamics® and discuss future plans.

The Program

14:00 – 14:20     Welcome, introduction

Nienke Valkhoff, InControl

What InControl does for their educational customers

14:20 – 15:00    The role of simulation in Energy Systems

Daniel Karnøe, Logics

15:00 – 15:15     Short break

15:15 – 16:00     The role of simulation in education and research at Aalborg University

Prof. Kenn Steger-Jensen, Aalborg University, & Michael Sparre Sørensen, Integrate

What Aalborg University does in education and research using Simulation

16:00 – 16:30     Future developments and releases of Enterprise Dynamics®

Harry Bunnik, Product Manager Enterprise Dynamics®

16:30 – 17:00     Discussion – What do educational customers need from ED?

Join this online seminar and register here.

ASIM Award Ceremony

ASIM Award Ceremony 2021

Last month the 19th Event of the Simulation Working Group (ASIM, “Arbeitsgemeinschaft Simulation”) took place, this year online for the first time. The ASIM is the largest European simulation conference for production and logistics and presents trends, current developments, scientific work, and interesting applications in the industry every two years.

The Simulation Working Group (ASIM) is a technical committee of the Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI). The task of the ASIM is the promotion and further development of modeling and simulation in the basics and application as well as to improve the communication between theory and practice. Moreover, ASIM is a founding member of EUROSIM, the umbrella organization of European simulation societies. Therefore, the ASIM is the most important platform for developers and users of simulation in German-speaking countries.

Even though, this year the conference took place virtually the participation was as high as usual. There were approximately 180 participants who exchanged ideas in the topics of simulation in 4 parallel tracks and 70 specialist lectures.

As part of the conference the ASIM Jury calls for an outstanding thesis (Master, Bachelor or Diploma). This year, we congratulate our award winner Christina Gschwendtner from Söchtenau for her master’s thesis on simulation in construction. The main focus of the work is on the logistics of interior construction projects. As a loyal ASIM member, also this year InControl sponsored the award of €1.000,- together with SimPlan AG. 

(Christina Gschwendtner accepting her price virtually)

Online seminar Simulation & Education

Online seminar Simulation & Education

Join us on Thursday the 21st of October for an insightful online German Seminar Simulation & Education.

During this seminar our simulation experts and guest speakers will discuss the following topics:

  • Digital Twin; the role of simulation in baggage handling at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
  • Simulation at HTL Leoben
  • Future developments of Enterprise Dynamics®


The program:

14:00 – 14:20            Welcome, introduction
Margit Thomsen, InControl
What does InControl do for their educational customers?

14:20–15:00               Digital Twin; the role of simulation in baggage handling at Schiphol
Harry Bunnik, InControl and Han Mackor, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

15:00 – 15:15            Break (15minutes)

15:15 – 16:00            Simulation at HTL Leoben                  
Dr. Thomas Messner, HTL Leoben, Austria
Experiences using Enterprise Dynamics® in simulation & education

16:00 –16:30             Enterprise Dynamics 10.4 release + Futures developments
Harry Bunnik, Product manager Enterprise Dynamics InControl                                                Han Mackor, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

16:30 – 17:00            Discussion – What do educational customers need from Enterprise Dynamics
Discussion with participants

 

 

Do you want to follow this online seminar? Register here! 

Please note that this Online Seminar will be in German. 

Simulation adds value to Education

Simulation adds value to Education

Inspiring online seminar for our Educational User Community

On April 29th a group of enthusiastic teachers from several Universities working and teaching with Enterprise Dynamics® attended our online seminar Simulation & Education. InControl received loads of positive reactions launching the simulation software Enterprise Dynamics version 10.4. Particular new features and the user-friendliness were mentioned.  

In the discussion about online teaching, the teachers expressed great appreciation of the free-of-charge Enterprise Dynamics Student Starter extended edition. InControl made this version available since universities and Applied Sciences Institutes closed their facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.    

A part of the new software release and the extended Student Starter edition, the following two subjects were presented: 

The first presenter was Mr. Koos van Overdijk from Avans University of Applied Sciences. He explained how they are using the Enterprise Dynamics program for many years. More than 150 students per year studying Industrial Engineering and Management uses InControl’s software program during Discrete Simulation courses. Where students have to design a soft drink factory in Enterprise Dynamics with all its features as part of a group project. Mr. Koos van Overdijk, has provided this inspiring course for many years and presented the ins and outs of this case and the way he shared his knowledge during the seminar.  

Thereafter, Mr. Han Mackor of Royal Schiphol Group and Mr. Harry Bunnik of InControl explained how a Digital Twin is created. What are the starting points and what steps do you need to take before you are even ready to run Digital Twin? To give insight into this process we elaborated on our approach to the baggage handling system of Airport Amsterdam Schiphol. How does Schiphol translate a suggestion to (re)design or improve a system or process into a realistic implementation using the advantages of simulation software? 

Are you interested in teaching with Enterprise Dynamics classroom?  

Become part of our active Educational User Community and discuss or share your knowledge and experiences with other lecturers. 

Just send an email or check our website.  

How Wageningen University & Research Integrates Simulation Software in Education

How Wageningen University & Research Integrates Simulation Software in Education Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting Rene Haijema, Associate Professor at Wageningen University
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Student using Enterprise Dynamics® Software successfully at Royal Schiphol Group

Student using Enterprise Dynamics Software successfully at Royal Schiphol Group

During my graduation project of the master Operations Management and Logistics at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) I conducted a research project at the Royal Schiphol Group. In my research I worked with the software of InControl Enterprise Dynamics to improve the trucks’ lead time designated for the air cargo handling. This software was preferred since Royal Schiphol Group already collaborated with InControl before. Besides, the software is suitable for the proposed model since it is able to develop discrete-event simulations, shows the flow of the trucks, and has the possibilities to analyze and visualize the model in 2D and 3D perspectives. Moreover, the TU/e provided a user license to the students for this software.

In more detail, my research investigated the flow of trucks arriving at five airport locations to pick up or deliver goods. Specifically, their waiting times at each location were evaluated for the current situation and how the waiting times would change with the adoption of a new concept. The new concept was called Drop and Collect and allows trucks to park their trailers at a truck parking until their goods need to be further processed. This concept ensures more control of the trucks’ flow and a just-in-time handling of goods when they are needed for the next stage of transport (e.g. flying to the next destination). Since a truck parking is added to the current situation, the trucks’ waiting times will change. Enterprise Dynamics was able to measure the change in time well. The design of my models consisted of three steps. Thereafter, the results were analyzed and evaluated.

First, I developed a simulation model of the current situation in the software. Before I started this research I had never worked with Enterprise Dynamics. However, a lot of information could be extracted from the InControl community where a lot of students had asked questions that were similar to my questions. Besides, tutorials and videos were available with basic models to compare and receive information. And what I really liked about InControl is that they were very accessible to ask questions.

Second, I developed additional models for five different scenarios of the Drop and Collect concept in Enterprise Dynamics. These scenarios were more complex than the current situation. Additional simulation objects were necessary to model these scenarios. Also changes in the behavior of the model was necessary. The new scenarios required a lot of capacity and processing constraints. These could be easily implemented using the Enterprise Dynamics Script language 4DScript.

Third, I run the models using the real data sets. During the development phase of the models I worked with small self-conceived data sets to build accurate models. After the models are validated and verified real data sets were used. Therefore, the corresponding trucks’ waiting times could be analyzed by running the models. The software was really helpful by analyzing and quantifying the trucks’ flows.

Last, the results of the simulation were evaluated and conclusions about the adoption of the Drop and Collect concept were drawn.

Overall, the software of InControl gave a good representation of the trucks’ flow at the airport and show where bottlenecks occur. The possibility to show the movements in 3D are very valuable for the understanding of the system and possible errors could be found more easily.

Are you interested in a thesis project about modeling with Enterprise Dynamics? The Enterprise Dynamics Pro license is an affordable license for students working on their bachelor’s or master’s thesis. Please find more information here or contact the research education team via email. 

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Simulation for mechanical engineering and technical business administration

Simulation for mechanical engineering and technical business administration

For the graduation of two different courses it is the intention to optimize two different production processes. For the course in mechanical engineering at the HAN University of Applied Sciences the paint shop is optimized. Enterprise Dynamics is very suitable for this because during the process the new paint shop still had to be realized. By means of simulations, the most optimal control and product flow could be determined, making sure that the new paint shop could deliver good and efficient work from the start.

For the second course in technical business administration at Saxion University of applied Sciences, the goal is to determine whether it is profitable to implement a 3D print production in the process. The Enterprise Dynamics simulation model was used to determine the batch size for the 3D print process in order to produce as efficiently as possible and to maintain stock in the 2Bin system of assembly lines. On the basis of the results of the simulations it could be determined whether it is profitable to invest in the implementation of a 3D print production in the production process. Both assignments were carried out within the company Van Raam which is the global market leader in the production of customized bicycles for people with disabilities.

Robin Rust continuous using Enterprise Dynamics. Currently Robin Rust is following a Master Industrial Engineering & management at the University of Twente where he continues strengthening his knowledge in simulation.

Student Project: Optimization of a paint shop and 3D print process

Van Raam was founded in 1900 as a blacksmith’s shop in Amsterdam. In 1933 the first bicycles were made in Amsterdam. In the seventies the company moved to Aalten and started producing bicycle frames. In 1984 Van Raam was taken over by P. Boezel and started to specialize in the design and production of adapted bicycles and frames. In 2004 Van Raam moved to Varsseveld, after which it moved to its new premises in Varsseveld in early 2019. This building has a size of 13,500 square meters and has 150 employees. The Van Raam bicycles are all available as electric bicycles.

Van Raam is a family business and is the global market leader in the production of customized bicycles for people with disabilities or who are looking for more stability and security. Van Raam has been proclaimed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation as the fourteenth most innovative company in the Netherlands.

Figure 1.1: Model Easy-Rider-2

Figure 1.2: Model Fun2Go

At the beginning of 2019, Van Raam switched to a new and improved building. It was the opportunity to make big steps in the production process. For example, a completely new automated paint shop will be built and they were looking at how 3D printing can be implemented in the production process in order to create a constant flow.

The simulation software of Enterprise Dynamics was used to determine how these two innovations can best be used. Figure 1.3 shows the simulation used for the paint shop. This is structured as follows. In order to simulate a process as well as possible, all possible variations and demand patterns must be taken into account. The normal distribution is used for the capacity demand of the different assembly lines. The normal distribution is used to look at the reliability of a system. This is done by means of the standard deviation.

A requirement is that the employees of the spray booth work 85% of the day. In order to organise the flow of the paint shop as efficiently as possible, the outgoing products from the cooling tunnel have priority over the incoming products from the 1st part of the track.  The products from the cooling tunnel go either directly to the spray booth for the next layer, or first through the sticker lane, or to the assembly lines. By giving priority to these products, it is ensured that the products are occupied by the system and the employee(s) as soon as possible. This is also the reason why buffer 3 has priority over buffer 2 and buffers 2&3 again have priority over buffer 1.

In addition, the system has been designed in such a way that if batches are used, they will always stay together. When the first product of a batch passes a point where several products can enter at the same time, all other inputs are temporarily closed until the batch in question is complete.

The simulation of the 3D printing process is shown in Figure 1.4 and connects to the magazine and the assembly line. The simulation was used to find out how best to fill the 3D printer’s batch in order to produce as efficiently as possible and to maintain stock in the 2Bin system of assembly lines.

Through the simulation program, several scenarios were tested for a production time of more than 2400 hours. The best scenario is determined based on an optimal flow in which almost no intermediate stock is needed and all internal processes are well attuned. In the best scenario, only safety stock is used and Just in Time Delivery continues to be used, drastically reducing production time and stock levels. It will be easier to achieve a higher output.

Figure 1.3: Paintshop simulation

Figure 1.4: 3D-print simulation

Student Simulation Project in Public Transportation Crowd simulations at railway station Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

Student Simulation Project in Public Transportation Crowd simulations at railway station Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

Written by Jurian Fijen – Amsterdam University of Applied Science – Built Environment, Mobility

During my last year at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Bachelor of Built Environment (Mobility), I used the software  Pedestrian Dynamics® of InControl for my thesis about crowd simulations at railway station Hoofddorp, the Netherlands.

I did my research in a graduation studio within my study Built Environment, which was supervised by two teachers and the Haarlemmermeer council. Hoofddorp is the main town of the Haarlemmermeer municipality. My research goal was to find out whether Hoofddorp railway station is capable of handling all pedestrian flows in the coming years. Expectations are the station will become busier. Are adjustments needed to the station? The expected increase is partly caused by the North-South metro line which is planned to be extended from Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport and Hoofddorp. Because of this extension, pedestrian flows at the station will change and become busier. The big question is whether the bottlenecks (stair cases, platforms and concourses) at the station will be sufficient to handle an increasing number of travelers.

For my thesis I first examined the concept of crowd simulations and looked at how this could be used at railway stations. To find out whether Hoofddorp station can handle the increased demand, I looked at two things: which data and other information do I need to model pedestrian flows and how can I find out when capacity is reached?

I used the crowd simulation software Pedestrian Dynamics® of InControl to model and examine pedestrian flows. My supervisors from the university provided a Pedestrian Dynamics® Student Pro license for my thesis project.  I used the program’s tutorials and examples to master the software, after which I started my own case. By loading an AutoCAD map of the station into Pedestrian Dynamics® the infrastructure was well implemented. Adding all data I gathered from the public transport time table, the available public transport equipment, pedestrians and accompanying numbers and routes, I was able to model the pedestrian flows into the station’s infrastructure

3D Simulation Model of Hoofddorp trainstation

In the model using capacity requirements one can find out bottlenecks’ capacity. The functionality offered by Pedestrian Dynamics® allows you to examine the station using frequency maps, density maps and flow counters which allow you to find the possible problems at the stations. This all can be clearly presented in a graph visualizing results over time. This program really helped to show me what a good pedestrian capacity study for Hoofddorp station could look like.

2D Simulation Model of Hoofddorp trainstation

My final assignment made me look differently at the built environment and public transport. When it comes to capacity problems in public transport, I mainly thought of too many passengers on the trains or too little space for even more trains on the track. It shows that stations will also have to be expanded in future, because it is becoming increasingly busy and there is too little room for passenger flows. I thought it was interesting to be able to demonstrate this in my thesis.

Personally, I think it can be interesting for many courses, such as Built Environment, Civil Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Urban Planning and Architecture, to include crowd simulations in the curriculum. It allows people to view outdoor spaces and buildings, such as stations, stadiums and shopping streets in a completely different way. Finally, we have seen recently how difficult it is to come up with good solutions for environments where the infrastructure is too narrow for too large groups of people.

I am happy that I used Pedestrian Dynamics® for my assignment. It is a great program for modelling pedestrian flows in stations. The manual, the contact with the people at InControl, the tutorial and sample models have all ensured that Pedestrian Dynamics® was a great program for me to work with. I would like to keep on using the program to further improve my skills and expand my knowledge about pedestrian flows.

There are many interesting research topics in the area of crowd simulation. At the moment, many organizations struggle with capacity issues and social distancing measures. Are you interested in a thesis project about crowd modelling with Pedestrian Dynamics? Pedestrian Dynamics Student Pro license is an affordable license for students working on their bachelor or master thesis.

Find more information here or contact our research and education team at education@www.incontrolsim.com