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Process Simulation in Excel for a sheet capabilities are very good for sampling simu-
Quantitative Management Course lation methods but ill suited for discrete-event simu-
lation. This paper proposes and discusses how to
Raymond R. Hill use SimQuick, an Excel-based simulation package,
Department of Operational Sciences to overcome these limitations and bring discrete-
Air Force Institute of Technology event simulation into the spreadsheet-based quanti-
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45424 tative management course.
A simulation is a computer model used to evaluate
ray.hill@afit.edu a system numerically (Law and Kelton, 2000). Sto-
chastic simulations involve random variates to model
Abstract variables assumed to follow some probability dis-
tribution. When the simulation explicitly models a
A nagging limitation of teaching spreadsheet-based system as that system changes over time, the simu-
quantitative decision-making courses is the some- lation is referred to as a dynamic simulation. Recent
times stilted view of simulation presented, a view surveys list simulation as among the most popular
that overly emphasizes sampling simulation at the and widely used operational research techniques
expense of process simulation. Without a viable (Lane, et al., 1993).
spreadsheet-based process simulation package, the Spreadsheets have long been in use in the business
best efforts aimed at overcoming this emphasis on world while unfortunately ignored among some ana-
sampling simulation have provided passing refer- lysts and engineers. That tendency is rapidly falling
ences to special purpose simulation packages focused away as the modern spreadsheet truly provides a
on process simulation. We introduce and discuss diverse and robust environment for most modeling
SimQuick as an alternative approach for teaching needs. The modern spreadsheet provides a means to
process simulation within the context of a spread- store and manage data, run statistical analyses, con-
sheet-based approach to teaching simulation. Al- duct mathematical modeling, import and export
though an early tool, and somewhat limited when tables and graphs, and interface to other more pow-
compared to special purpose simulation packages, erful computer packages. In short, the spreadsheet
SimQuick provides a viable means for teaching the is a (nearly) complete analytical toolbox.
process of simulation modeling and reinforcing the
salient features of process modeling as a quantita- Not surprisingly, quantitative management texts fo-
tive technique. cused on surveying quantitative techniques have
nearly unanimously adopted the spreadsheet as the
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those computing platform of choice. The benefits provided
of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the the course instructor include:
United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the
• pre-existing familiarization with the platform;
US Government.
and
• increased likelihood of student future use of
the quantitative techniques
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Process Simulation in Excel for a Quantitative Management Course
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Process Simulation in Excel for a Quantitative Management Course
mentioned when referencing the more sophisticated elements, and the connections between the elements.
simulation packages. Exceptions include Camm and These specifications are indicated to SimQuick via
Evans (1996), Evans and Olsen (1998), and Laurence particular worksheet tables whose access is con-
and Pasternack (1998) whose works include student trolled via VBA menus within the SimQuick spread-
versions of these more powerful packages. These sheet. SimQuick can be described as a first-genera-
exceptions are, however, admittedly limited in the tion package, replete with significant limitations
amount of time and space devoted to discussing how when compared to mature, special purpose pack-
to use these more powerful simulation packages. ages such as Extend, AweSim, ProModel, or Arena.
However, we have found SimQuick, despite its limi-
A stilted view of simulation due to spreadsheet
tations, quite adequate in providing a spreadsheet
limitations deprives the survey-course student a full
tool with which to focus on the salient features of
appreciation of the power and benefits of the simu-
process simulation thereby providing more complete
lation as a quantitative technique. To overcome this
coverage of simulation as a quantitative technique.
limitation, we incorporated SimQuick into the simu-
lation portion of our survey course. In our case, Figure 1 displays the SimQuick control panel. Each
process simulation follows sampling simulation for button transfers control to a worksheet containing
which we use Crystal Ball. See Evans (2000) or the SimQuick tables through which one specifies a
Ragsdale (2001) for details on sampling simulation simulation. The only elements available in SimQuick
using Crystal Ball. are those listed on the panel, and described below.
This limitation on SimQuick constructs is a bless-
ing for the survey course as the student must focus
SimQuick Introduced on the process of simulation modeling to success-
SimQuick (Hartvigsen, 2001) is a process-oriented fully employ SimQuick. Further, the student is not
simulation package for Excel. SimQuick is not an overwhelmed by the large number of modeling
Excel add-in (such as an .xla file) but rather a spread- constructs such as one finds in the special purpose
sheet template in which a user specifies the elements simulation packages. The instructor must however
of a simulation model, the parameterization of those choose modeling projects that are appropriate for
the SimQuick package.
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Process Simulation in Excel for a Quantitative Management Course
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Process Simulation in Excel for a Quantitative Management Course
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Process Simulation in Excel for a Quantitative Management Course
into two components, A and B, each moving into a the final assembly process. Objects from Buffers
Buffer to await polishing. Figure 4, extending from FinishA and FinishB combine to form the final prod-
Figure 3 Buffer WPA, is the component A polishing uct, Z, an operation that requires 1.5 minutes. These
process. The polishing process time follows a nor- buffers are also the connecting points between Fig-
mal distribution, with mean 2 and standard devia- ure 4 and 5, respectively, into Figure 6. Delivery
tion of 0.5 minutes. The workstation handles one trucks arrive each hour and take away up to 15 com-
object at a time and does not require special re- pleted components each arrival. Remaining compo-
sources. Figure 5, extending from Figure 3 Buffer nents wait in the Loading Dock buffer. In this model,
WPB, is the component B polishing process which all buffer capacities are set to 200 effectively yield-
includes a 5% chance of inspection failure and re- ing no capacity limitations. Once fully defined and
quired re-sanding and re-polishing. The sanding re- specified, the user can provide the model informa-
quires a constant 2 minutes. Finally, Figure 6 shows tion to SimQuick via the proper SimQuick table.
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Process Simulation in Excel for a Quantitative Management Course
Figure 7 is a partial screen shot showing the En- presented on other worksheets. The Examples but-
trance element (included in Figure 3), named Ar- ton provides precisely that, an example completed
rive, as specified to SimQuick. Note the Entrances table. In this model, the time between arrivals is
worksheet provides guidance on the acceptable in- modeled as a uniform random variable between 6
ter-arrival and number of objects arriving distribu- and 9 time minutes. A single object arrives and
tions, to include a constant value. Similar help is moves directly to the Login (workstation) element.
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Figure 8 is a collage from four of the five tables in (Nor(2,.5)), and the destination for once processing
which the conceptual model workstations are speci- is completed is specified. In the case of the Login
fied to SimQuick. These tables specify the worksta- workstation, a nominal time is given while the dual
tions from Figures 3-5. Note each element has a output destinations serve to split the single arrival
unique Name, the processing time may be a con- into two components, A and B (since these arrive
stant (0.1 or 2) or some random amount of time simultaneously.)
Figure 9 contains a collage of all the buffer elements destination. The name specified in the output desti-
defined in the model. Each buffer is provided a ca- nation ties directly to the directed arc used in the
pacity (use a large number if capacity is not an is- model flowchart in Figures 3-6. To conserve space,
sue) and each buffer starts empty. Each element is neither the Decision Point element nor the Exit ele-
provided a unique name and lists a single output ments are shown.
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model. Inferences for the system are based on this proximately 27% of the time (Fraction time work-
data provided. ing) and we can infer that 2.4 items required sand-
As indicated in Figure 10, SimQuick provides the ing (difference in Work Cycles started for Polishing
data for each replication and a summary average A versus Polishing B as well as the Work cycles
across all the replications. Variance information re- started for Sanding B). This represents a 3.7% fail
quires the user save the results worksheet and use rate which is very close to the 5% theoretical fail
Excel functions to calculate variance information rate specified for the model. Other data provided
based on the replication data. For this model, across (not shown) indicate a 1% utilization of the Sander
the ten replications, an average of 64.4 components workstation and only 47% of the delivery truck ca-
arrive. The Polishing workstations are utilized ap- pacity is employed. In class, various embellishments
can be included and the resulting system impacts
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