Purposes
Simulation models built in Flexsim CT can be used to improve many facets of a container terminal operation. In general, Flexsim helps in your goals to:
- Increase throughput
- Improve equipment utilization
- Reduce waiting time and queue sizes
- Reduce bottlenecks
- Balance workload allocating resources efficiently
- Study alternate investment ideas
- Demonstrate new tool design capabilities
- Train operators in overall system behaviour and job related performance
More specifically, with Flexsim CT you can analyze:
- Yard stacking and segregation strategies
- Yard layout and dispatching
- Gate logistics and capacity
- Quay crane allocation
- Yard equipment allocation
- Hostler gang allocation
- Ship scheduling
- Berth assignment
- Traffic constraints
Flexsim CT helps you find ways to move more containers more efficiently and at less cost. The power and beauty of Flexsim CT is that ideas for improving a process can be simulated, tested, and justified prior to implementing them in the actual system. The results of each simulation can be analyzed graphically through 3D animation, and through statistical reports and graphs, which are both excellent for communicating a model's purpose and results to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Getting Results
Using Flexsim CT to study a process, end-users can confidently communicate their assumptions, findings, conclusions, and future actions to colleagues, bosses, or clients about how to improve container flow specifically and terminal operations generally. In addition to moving more containers more efficiently and at lower cost, organizations and individuals using simulation gain a greater insight into the system being studied, which consequently helps managers to predict and control a terminal’s operations with greater reliability in the future.
Ease of Use
Flexsim CT is the first commercially available "off-the-shelf" simulation tool for container terminals. Through its simple drag-drop model-building methodology and its integrated 3D environment, Flexsim CT concentrates on making model-building easy, fast and intuitive.
Statistical Outputs
Flexsim CT provides real-time statistics collection of many key performance measures, including:
- Berth productivity
- Ship queueing and wait times
- Crane utilization
- Truck queueing and wait times
- Yard content and container dwell times
- Yard equipment utilization
- Gate throughput and turn times
Tutorials
Video tutorials covering some specific parts of Flexsim CT are available by clicking on one of the following links:
- Berth Planner Tutorial - how to draw the berth and create ships using the Flexsim CT Berth Planner.
- Gate Planner Tutorial - how to generate gate traffic (trucks picking up and dropping off containers) using the Flexsim CT Gate Planner.
- Yard Planner Tutorial - how to set up yard blocks, RTGs and top loaders using the Flexsim CT Yard Planner.
Screenshots
User Interface
3D Presentation Views
