Question $3$: SImQuick Simulation

Process Flow Map for a Linear Flow Process

We let time units denote minutes. The working time at each Work Station is uncertain, but can

be approximated the same way: by a uniform distribution with a minimum of $5$ minutes and

maximum of $15$ minutes $($i$.$e$.,$ enter Uni $(5,15)$ for the working times$).$ Hence, the line is

balanced in the sense that the mean working time $(10$ minutes$)$ at each Work Station is the same

$($however$,$ there is a lot of variance in the working times$).$ We run the model for a simulated $24-$

hour time period, that is$,1440$ time units. For the capacity and initial inventory of Raw

Materials, enter $200($this will prevent us from running out$).$ Enter Unlimited for the capacity of

Finished Goods $($its initial inventory should be $0).$

SimQuick Exercise $18$: For each of the situations a through e below, perform $30$ simulations and report the identified metrics in the table below.$$ Note: overall mean cycle time through the process from the time it enters WS$1$ to the time it leaves WS$3.$ This is computed by adding the overall mean cycle times through the internal buffers, the Buffers added between Work Stations $($if any$),$ and the mean working times at the Work Stations.

a$.$ Consider the SimQuick model base case as shown above. Note that the $$Working time$$ for each Work Station is Uni$(5,15).$

b$.$ Consider the original model, and change the working time at each Work Station to

Uni$(9,11).$ Note that the new working times have the same mean but a smaller variance.

c$.$ Consider the original model, using the reduced variance distribution from part b on WS$2$

only.

d$.$ For the original model, add a Buffer between WS$1$ and WS$2$ and another Buffer between

WS$2$ and WS$3($with no initial inventory$).$ Set the capacity of both Buffers $3.$

e$.$ For the original model, add a Buffer between WS$1$ and WS$2$ and another Buffer between

WS$2$ and WS$3($with no initial inventory$).$ Set the capacity of both Buffers $9.$

$\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{|$l$|$l$|$l$|$l$|$l$|$l$|\}$

$\backslash$hline Results$\backslash$scenarios & $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$c$\}$

part a $\backslash \backslash$

$($base case$)\backslash \backslash$

Uni$(5,15)$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$ & $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$c$\}$

Part b$-\backslash \backslash$

Uni$(9,11)$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$ & $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$c$\}$

Part c$-\backslash \backslash$

WS$2$ only $\backslash \backslash$

at $(9,11)$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$ & $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$l$\}$

Part d $\backslash \backslash$

WIP Buf $\backslash \backslash$

Cap$=3$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$ & $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$l$\}$

Part d WIP $\backslash \backslash$

Buf Cap$=9$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$l$\}$

Throughput $\backslash \backslash$

$($Final Inventory of $\backslash \backslash$

FG$)$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$l$\}$

Overall mean cycle $\backslash \backslash$

time of system $\backslash \backslash$

$($WS$1$ through WS$3)$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$l$\}$

WIP buff$1-2(\backslash$# $\backslash \backslash$

units$)$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline Time in Buff $1-2$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline $\backslash$begin$\{$tabular$\}\{$l$\}$

WIP buff$2-3\backslash \backslash$

$(\backslash$#units$)$

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline Time in Buff $2-3$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline Util $\backslash \%-$ WS$1$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline Block $\backslash \%-$ WS$1$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline Util $\backslash \%-$ WS$2$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline Block $\backslash \%-$ WS$2$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline Util $\backslash \%-$ WS$3$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline Block $\backslash \%-$ WS$3$ & & & & & $\backslash \backslash$

$\backslash$hline

$\backslash$end$\{$tabular$\}$