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Discrete-event simulation of queues with spreadsheets: a teaching case

Published: 03 December 2006 Publication History

Abstract

This paper describes the use of spreadsheets combined with simple VBA code as a tool for teaching queuing theory and discrete-event simulation. Four different cases are considered: single server, parallel servers, tandem queuing, and closed queuing system. The data obtained in the simulation run are conveniently stored in spreadsheets for subsequent statistical analysis. This approach was successfully deployed in a second one-semester course on management science for industrial engineers undergraduate students.

References

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Albright, S. C. 2001. VBA for Modelers. Pacific Grove: Duxbury.
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Banks, J. 1998. Principles of Simulation. In Handbook of Simulation: principles, methodology, advances, applications, and practice. Ed. J. Banks. New York: John Wiley.
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Centeno, M. A. 1996. An Introduction to Simulation Modeling. In Proceedings of the 1996 Winter Simulation Conference, ed. J. M. Charnes, D. J. Morrice, D. T. Brunner, and J. J. Swain, 15--22. Piscataway, New Jersey: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
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Chase, R. B., N. J. Aquilano, F. R. Jacobs. 1998. Production and Operations Management: manufacturing and services. 8th ed. Boston: Irwin/McGraw-Hill.
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Evans, J. R. 2000. Spreadsheets as a Tool for Teaching Simulation. Informs Transactions on Educations. 1(1), p. 27--37.
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Grossman, T. A. 1999. Teachers' Forum: spreadsheet modeling and simulation improves understanding of queues. Interfaces. 29(3), p. 88--103.
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Hora, S. C. 2003. Spreadsheet Modeling of the G/G/c Queuing System without Macros or Add-Ins. Informs Transactions on Educations. 3(3), p. 86--89.
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Ingolfsson, A.; T. A. Grossman. 2002. Graphical Spreadsheet Simulation of Queues. Informs Transactions on Educations, 2(2), p. 27--39.
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Kleinrock, L. 1975. Queuing Systems. New York: John Wiley.
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Pritsker, A. A. B. 1998. Principles of Simulation Modeling. In Handbook of Simulation: principles, methodology, advances, applications, and practice. Ed. J. Banks. New York: John Wiley.
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Schriber, T. J.; and D. T. Brunner. 1998. How Discrete-Event Simulation Software Works. In Handbook of Simulation: principles, methodology, advances, applications, and practice. Ed. J. Banks. New York: John Wiley.
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Cited By

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  • (2007)Monte Carlo simulation to propose improvements of an alkyd resin processProceedings of the 7th WSEAS International Conference on Simulation, Modelling and Optimization10.5555/1353862.1353945(469-473)Online publication date: 15-Sep-2007
  1. Discrete-event simulation of queues with spreadsheets: a teaching case

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    cover image ACM Conferences
    WSC '06: Proceedings of the 38th conference on Winter simulation
    December 2006
    2429 pages
    ISBN:1424405017

    Sponsors

    • IIE: Institute of Industrial Engineers
    • ASA: American Statistical Association
    • IEICE ESS: Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Engineering Sciences Society
    • IEEE-CS\DATC: The IEEE Computer Society
    • SIGSIM: ACM Special Interest Group on Simulation and Modeling
    • NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • (SCS): The Society for Modeling and Simulation International
    • INFORMS-CS: Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences-College on Simulation

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    Winter Simulation Conference

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    Published: 03 December 2006

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    Sponsor:
    • IIE
    • ASA
    • IEICE ESS
    • IEEE-CS\DATC
    • SIGSIM
    • NIST
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    • INFORMS-CS
    WSC06: Winter Simulation Conference 2006
    December 3 - 6, 2006
    California, Monterey

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    WSC '06 Paper Acceptance Rate 177 of 252 submissions, 70%;
    Overall Acceptance Rate 3,413 of 5,075 submissions, 67%

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    • (2007)Monte Carlo simulation to propose improvements of an alkyd resin processProceedings of the 7th WSEAS International Conference on Simulation, Modelling and Optimization10.5555/1353862.1353945(469-473)Online publication date: 15-Sep-2007

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