Discrete-Event Simulation of Queues with Spreadsheets: A Teaching Case

Author

De Mesquita, Marco Aurelio ; Hernandez, Alvaro Euzebio

Author_Institution

Dept. of Production Eng., Sao Paulo Univ.

fYear

2006

fDate

3-6 Dec. 2006

Firstpage

2277

Lastpage

2283

Abstract

This paper describes the use of spreadsheets combined with simple VBA code as a tool for teaching 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

Keywords

computer aided instruction; computer science education; discrete event simulation; management science; queueing theory; spreadsheet programs; statistical analysis; teaching; closed queuing system; discrete-event simulation; management science; parallel servers; queuing theory; single server; spreadsheets; statistical analysis; Analytical models; Computer aided software engineering; Discrete event simulation; Education; Engineering management; Logic programming; Mathematical model; Production engineering; Queueing analysis; Statistical analysis;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Simulation Conference, 2006. WSC 06. Proceedings of the Winter

Conference_Location

Monterey, CA

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0500-9

Electronic_ISBN

1-4244-0501-7

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WSC.2006.323053

Filename

4117880