FlexSim

FlexSim user review

Comments: Using the process simulation that was created a few weeks ago, it became abundantly clear in a quantitative manner how much of an impact each factor has on the process outcome. Changing one or more factors and re-running the simulation is child's play using FlexSim.

Pros:

Words fail me when I attempt to tell my colleagues at work how astoundingly simple this software is! I have never created a process simulation of any complexity before and I created a moderately complex process simulation using live process data in FlexSim in less than 45 minutes. This software is positively brilliant!

Cons:

Some less capable individuals do snicker a bit when they see the manual movements on screen during a simulation. Perhaps that can be made to look a bit more modern-looking? Still, no complaints from simulation nerds like me!

FlexSim Healthcare

Pros:

Ease of use, the simulation quality is exceptional. the data that can be pulled is very valuable to clients.

Cons:

Can be hard to extrapolate the data. Sometimes the analytics can be complicated for the novice.

My grad student was working on a hospital project using FlexsimHC.

Comments: Animation feature of the software was a good help when making presentations to healthcare professionals who don't know much about computer simulation.

Pros:

The animation features and functionality of FlexsimHC were very helpful for the project that we needed to test different scenarios for capacity analysis and scheduling of key resources.

Cons:

My grad student was creating a simulation model for a med/surg unit using FlexsimHC. There were some hidden bugs causing the problems of simulation runs and the tech support was not able to help fix...

Cool Visuals But Not Sure on Implementation

Comments: My overall experience with FlexSim has been basically of uncertainty with it being a new software that I do not find easy to use and has not been implemented with my company. The training was disappointing as there were technical issues and we “hit the ground sprinting” from my experience of not knowing how to start a new project and then too large of a group to get the specialized assistance needed.

Pros:

What I liked most about this software was what I saw in a presentation that was able to simulate a logistics warehouse and was very helpful and informative for future clients to see actual 3D modeling showing more than be stated just in words.

Cons:

What I liked least about this software was that the training seemed to not be directed at my industry as the first few days were very random and there was not a good introduction on how to use the software from a very basic understanding.

FlexSim - A powerful improvement tool

Comments: I have used FlexSim to model several systems over the past 18 years: multiple distribution centers; a restaurant kitchen operation; a rail yard; a harvesting operation and several large manufacturing operations in several industries. As a professional I have honed my simulation modeling skills over the years and FlexSim has been part of that growth through their excellent technical support and continuous improvement and expansion of the FlexSim software.

Pros:

In my profession, it is important that a simulation package is flexible enough to apply to many types of systems, powerful enough handle very large and complex operations if necessary, and user-friendly so that projects can be completed efficiently and at the lowest cost possible. FlexSim hits high marks in all of these areas. As a past user of other simulation software packages, I can say that Flexsim has been an outstanding software package to use and has continued to grow in value for me over the past 18 years. In addition, I have found the customer service/technical support from Flexsim to be exceptional.

Cons:

I don't have any real "cons" at this time. I tend to push FlexSim to its limits with the applications that I try to model. At this time, the biggest issue that I am having is working with cranes (limited ability to handle multiple cranes on a single rail, for example). With that said, the technical support group works with me to develop work-arounds for handle current FlexSim limitations at they occur.