SIMULATION NOTES (ADDITIONAL)
5.2.3. Some advantage of simulation :
1. Simulation is Mathematically less complicated
2. Simulation is flexible
3. It can be modified to suit the changing environments.
4. It can be used for training purpose
5. It may be less expensive and less time consuming in a quite a few real world situations.
5.2.4. Some Limitations of Simulation :
1. Quantification or Enlarging of the variables maybe difficult.
2. Large number of variables make simulations unwieldy and more difficult.
3. Simulation may not. Yield optimum or accurate results.
4. Simulation are most expensive and time consuming model.
5. We cannot relay too much on the results obtained from simulation models.
5.2.5. Steps in simulation :
1. Identify the measure of effectiveness.
2. Decide the variables which influence the measure of effectiveness and choose those
variables, which affects the measure of effectiveness significantly.
3. Determine the probability distribution for each variable in step 2 and construct the
cumulative probability distribution.
4. Choose an appropriate set of random numbers.
5. Consider each random number as decimal value of the cumulative probability
distribution.
6. Use the simulated values so generated into the formula derived from the measure of
effectiveness.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the sample is large enough to arrive at a satisfactory and
reliable decision.
5.2.6. Uses of Simulation
Simulation is used for solving
1. Inventory Problem
2. Queueing Problem
3. Training Programmes etc.
Example :
Customers arrive at a milk booth for the required service. Assume that inter – arrival and service
time are constants and given by 1.5 and 4 minutes respectively. Simulate the system by hand
computations for 14 minutes.
(i) What is the waiting time per customer?
(ii) What is the percentage idle time for the facility?
(Assume that the system starts at t = 0)
Solution :
First customer arrives at the service center at t = 0
His departure time after getting service = 0 + 4 = 4 minutes.
Second customer arrives at time t = 1.5 minutes
he has to wait = 4 – 1.5 = 2.5 minutes.
Third customer arrives at time t = 3 minutes
he has to wait for = 8-3 = 5 minutes
Fourth customer arrives at time t = 4.5 minutes and he has to wait for 12 – 4.5 = 7.5 minutes.
During this 4.5 minutes, the first customer leaves in 4 minutes after getting service and the
second customer is getting service.
Fifth customer arrives at t = 6 minutes
he has to wait 14 – 6 = 8 minutes
Sixth customer arrives at t = 7.5 minutes
he has to wait 14 – 7.5 = 6.5 minutes
Seventh customer arrives at t = 9 minutes
he has to wait 14 – 9 = 5 minutes
During this 9 minutes the second customer leaves the service in 8th minute and third person is to
get service in 9th minute.
Eighth customer arrives at t = 10.5 minutes
he has to wait 14 – 10.5 = 3.5 minutes
Nineth customer arrives at t = 12 minutes
he has to wait 14 – 12 = 2 minutes
But by 12th minute the third customer leaves the Service
10th Customer arrives at t = 13.5 minutes
he has to wait 14-13.5 = 0.5 minute
From this simulation table it is clear that
(i) Average waiting time for 10 customers
= 2.5+5+7.5+8+6.5+5.0+3.5+2+0.5
10
= 40.5 = 4.05
10
(ii) Average waiting time for 9 customers who are in waiting for service 40.5 = 4.5 minutes.
9
But the average service time is 4 minutes which is less that the average waiting time, the
percentage of idle time for service =
0%