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Overview

This guide walks you through building and running a basic simulation in ProDex. By the end, you’ll have a working model, a completed run, and results you can explore.

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Step 1: Create a Model

From the Modeler, create a new model. Give it a name and an optional description. The model is your container — everything else (components, configuration, results) lives inside it.

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Step 2: Define Your Entities

Before building the model graph, define the entities that will flow through it. Entities represent the items your factory produces or consumes — raw materials, intermediates, and finished goods. Go to Data in the sidebar to create entities. Each entity has a name and type. Once created, entities are available to all models in your factory.

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Step 3: Build the Model Graph

Back in the Modeler, you’ll see a canvas where you build your simulation as a graph of connected components. The basic building blocks are:
  • Source — generates entities and introduces them into the model. Configure arrival logic and initial attributes.
  • Process — applies a delay and optionally consumes resources. This is where work happens.
  • Resource — represents capacity (workers, machines). Processes pull from resources while running.
  • Sink — removes entities from the model. This is the exit point.
  • Buffer — holds entities in a queue with an optional capacity limit.
  • Router — splits entity flow based on conditions you define.
  • Combiner / Separator — batch entities together or split one into many.
  • Transformer — changes entity type after processing.
  • Station — groups related components into a physical space.
Add components from the toolbar and connect them by dragging from one node’s output to another’s input. A simple model might look like: Source → Process → Sink.

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Step 4: Configure Components

Click any component to open its configuration panel. Key things to configure:
  • Source: which entity type to generate, arrival rate or schedule
  • Process: processing time (can be a fixed value or a distribution), resource requirements
  • Resource: capacity (how many units are available)
  • Router: routing logic using ProDex’s expression language
Most fields accept either a plain number or an expression. Expressions let you reference constants, lookup tables, entity attributes, and simulation state.

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Step 5: Set Simulation Duration

In the model settings, set how long the simulation should run (in seconds of simulated time). This controls the length of each run.

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Step 6: Run the Simulation

Click Run to execute the simulation. ProDex runs the model as a discrete event simulation and streams results back when complete.

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Step 7: View Results

Navigate to Results to see your run’s output:
  • KPI cards — summary metrics like throughput, utilization, cycle time
  • Charts — time series, histograms, bar charts, and more configured on your model
  • Events — a detailed trace of every event that occurred during the simulation
From here you can compare this run against others or export results as a PDF or Excel file.

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What’s Next

  • Add more components to model a more realistic facility
  • Define Constants and Lookup Tables to parameterize your model
  • Run Experiments to test multiple scenarios with varying inputs
  • Ask Dexter to analyze your results or suggest improvements