Question 1

How can random numbers be generated?

Accepted Answer

Random numbers can be generated by a computer, looking them up in a collection, or generation by some mechanical means. A package like Excel can generate random numbers using the RAND() function, which generates uniformly distributed random numbers within the interval [0,1]. In the absence of a computer, random numbers can be looked up in published tables of random numbers. Finally, the modeler can observe some physical phenomenon as a source of random numbers, such as flipping a coin.

Question 2

A number that has the same probability of being selected as any other number is a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

random number

Question 3

What is the difference between a waiting line model as described in Supplement B and a simulation model of a waiting line problem?

Accepted Answer

The waiting line model describes the operating characteristics of interest with known equations. The simulation model actually mimics the arrival of customers and their service, empirically calculating the operating characteristics.

Question 4

What are the differences between decision variables and uncontrolled variables? Describe the differences and provide an example from a simulation model.

Accepted Answer

A decision variable is one that is under

Question 5

SimQuick can be used to simulate all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  a call center with completely random call arrivals and processing times. 
B)  a hospital emergency room with arrivals that vary during different time periods throughout the day. 
C)  a manufacturing process with a constant arrival rate (e.g., every 2 minutes) at one of the process steps. 
D)  the hiring of production workers, based on skill requirements throughout the year. 
A)  a call center with completely random call arrivals and processing times. 
B)  a hospital emergency room with arrivals that vary during different time periods throughout the day. 
C)  a manufacturing process with a constant arrival rate (e.g., every 2 minutes) at one of the process steps. 
D)  the hiring of production workers, based on skill requirements throughout the year.

Question 6

The manager of a branch bank wants to build a simulation model of the lobby operation to reduce the waiting time of her customers. The number of customers waiting in line at any point of time is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  decision variable. 
B)  dependent variable. 
C)  uncontrollable variable. 
D)  time-compressed variable. 
A)  decision variable. 
B)  dependent variable. 
C)  uncontrollable variable. 
D)  time-compressed variable.

Question 7

Random variables are under the control of the decision maker.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Steady state occurs when the simulation is repeated over enough time that the average results for performance measures remain constant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Refer to the bank process model. The bank's process improvement group has developed a number of process and technology changes that will improve the Teller's process rate per customer from a mean of 3.0 minutes to 2.5 minutes (standard deviation remains at 0.5 minutes). The Bank Manager wants to determine if the improved process rate, along with the special promotion for new customers, will allow the "arrive and immediately leave" rate and average customer wait time in line achieved to still be met (12% balk rate, 9.95 minutes in line). If so, the manager will implement the process and technology changes and allow the special promotion to proceed. Using SimQuick, estimate the new arrive and immediately leave rate and average time in line. What decision should the manager make?

Accepted Answer

In the SimQuick model used for the bank

Question 10

Scenario E.1
SimQuick is being used to simulate the following bank process:
   
Customer arrivals at the Entrance Door of the bank with an average time between arrivals of 2.5 minutes. The Line Buffer holds 6 customers. If a customer arrives and the buffer line is filled, the customer leaves. The Work Station Teller's processing time per customer is normally distributed, with a mean of 3.0 minutes and a standard deviation of 0.5 minutes. The Served Customer Buffer in the flow chart is used to count the number of customers processed during the period simulated. A 2-hour period was simulated.
The SimQuick simulation is run, and the results are as follows:
  
-Use the information in Scenario E.1. On average, approximately how many customers were waiting in line during the 2-hour simulation period?

Accepted Answer

A)  5 
B)  4 
C)  3 
D)  2 
A)  5 
B)  4 
C)  3 
D)  2

Question 11

In Excel, the RAND() function generates either a 0 or a 1, purely at random.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

________ is the act of reproducing the behavior of a system using a model that describes the processes of the system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ is the act of reproducing the...

Question 13

Simulation models are:

Accepted Answer

A)  useful when waiting line models are too complex. 
B)  useful for conducting experiments using the real system. 
C)  preferred because they find optimal solutions. 
D)  usually inexpensive relative to other approaches. 
A)  useful when waiting line models are too complex. 
B)  useful for conducting experiments using the real system. 
C)  preferred because they find optimal solutions. 
D)  usually inexpensive relative to other approaches.

Question 14

When using Excel for simulation, it is important to freeze the random numbers used in order to compare the effectiveness of different policies. To do this, you must select the cells holding the random numbers with the mouse, click Edit/Copy at the top of the spreadsheet, and:

Accepted Answer

A)  click Edit/Paste Special and select the Values option. 
B)  click Edit/Paste to freeze the cells. 
C)  click Edit/Paste Special and select the Formulas option. 
D)  move to a different section of the spreadsheet, then click Edit/Paste to freeze the cells. 
A)  click Edit/Paste Special and select the Values option. 
B)  click Edit/Paste to freeze the cells. 
C)  click Edit/Paste Special and select the Formulas option. 
D)  move to a different section of the spreadsheet, then click Edit/Paste to freeze the cells.

Question 15

This table shows the distribution of grades in an operations management class.  
Add a column to the table that shows the cumulative probability and indicate what letter grade is obtained when the RAND() function is equal to 0.7406.

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D

Question 16

What is steady state in a simulation model? Why is it important to achieve steady state?

Accepted Answer

Steady state occurs when the model under

Question 17

A simulation model:

Accepted Answer

A)  describes operating characteristics with known equations. 
B)  replicates the service of customers and keeps track of characteristics such as the number in line, the waiting time, and the total time in the system. 
C)  prescribes what should be done in a situation. 
D)  finds the optimal solution to a problem without having to try each alternative. 
A)  describes operating characteristics with known equations. 
B)  replicates the service of customers and keeps track of characteristics such as the number in line, the waiting time, and the total time in the system. 
C)  prescribes what should be done in a situation. 
D)  finds the optimal solution to a problem without having to try each alternative.

Question 18

If the data needed to set up a simulation are available in company records, the technique used to obtain them is called ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the data needed to set up...

Question 19

Why would data need to be collected prior to conducting a simulation?

Accepted Answer

Data should be collected so the simulati

Question 20

This table shows the distribution of grades in an operations management class.  
Add a column to the table that shows the cumulative probability and indicate what letter grade is obtained when the RAND() function is equal to 0.982245.

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  F 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  F

Exam 22: Supplement E Simulation

How can random numbers be generated?

A number that has the same probability of being selected as any other number is a(n) ________.

What is the difference between a waiting line model as described in Supplement B and a simulation model of a waiting line problem?

What are the differences between decision variables and uncontrolled variables? Describe the differences and provide an example from a simulation model.

SimQuick can be used to simulate all of the following except:

The manager of a branch bank wants to build a simulation model of the lobby operation to reduce the waiting time of her customers. The number of customers waiting in line at any point of time is an example of a(n):

Random variables are under the control of the decision maker.

Steady state occurs when the simulation is repeated over enough time that the average results for performance measures remain constant.

In Excel, the RAND() function generates either a 0 or a 1, purely at random.

________ is the act of reproducing the behavior of a system using a model that describes the processes of the system.

Simulation models are:

When using Excel for simulation, it is important to freeze the random numbers used in order to compare the effectiveness of different policies. To do this, you must select the cells holding the random numbers with the mouse, click Edit/Copy at the top of the spreadsheet, and:

This table shows the distribution of grades in an operations management class. Add a column to the table that shows the cumulative probability and indicate what letter grade is obtained when the RAND() function is equal to 0.7406.

What is steady state in a simulation model? Why is it important to achieve steady state?

A simulation model:

If the data needed to set up a simulation are available in company records, the technique used to obtain them is called ________.

Why would data need to be collected prior to conducting a simulation?

This table shows the distribution of grades in an operations management class. Add a column to the table that shows the cumulative probability and indicate what letter grade is obtained when the RAND() function is equal to 0.982245.

Using Operations to Create Value

Process Strategy and Analysis

Quality and Performance

Capacity Planning

Constraint Management

Lean Systems

Project Management

Forecasting

Inventory Management

Operations Planning and Scheduling

Resource Planning

Supply Chain Design

Supply Chain Logistic Networks

Supply Chain Integration

Supply Chain Sustainability

Supplement A Decision Making

Supplement J Operations Scheduling

Supplement K Layout

Supplement B Waiting Lines

Supplement C Special Inventory Models

Supplement D Linear Programming

Supplement F Financial Analysis

Supplement G Acceptance Sampling Plans

Supplement H Measuring Output Rates

Supplement I Learning Curve Analysis

Filters