Introduction to Management Science 12th Edition by Bernard Taylor

Exercise 32

Every time a machine breaks down at the Dynaco Manufacturing Company (Problem), 1, 2, or 3 hours are required to fix it, according to the following probability distribution:
a. Simulate the repair time for 20 weeks and then compute the average weekly repair time.
b. If the random numbers that are used to simulate breakdowns per week are also used to simulate repair time per breakdown, will the results be affected in any way Explain.
c. If it costs $50 per hour to repair a machine when it breaks down (including lost productivity), determine the average weekly breakdown cost.
d. The Dynaco Company is considering a preventive maintenance program that would alter the probabilities of machine breakdowns per week as shown in the following table:
The weekly cost of the preventive maintenance program is $150. Using simulation, determine whether the company should institute the preventive maintenance program.
Problem
The Dynaco Manufacturing Company produces a product in a process consisting of operations of five machines. The probability distribution of the number of machines that will break down in a week follows:
a. Simulate the machine breakdowns per week for 20 weeks.
b. Compute the average number of machines that will break down per week.