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These accredited institutions are giving their students a competitive edge by teaching simulation techniques and principles with the same product these students will use once they graduate... ExtendSim.
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Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport |
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| College of Engineering and Technology |
AbuKir Campus, Alexandria, Egypt |
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Arizona State University |
New November 11, 2011 |
College of Innovation & Technology
Department of Engineering Technology |
Mesa, AZ USA |
| University |
Arizona State University |
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| Department |
College of Innovation & Technology
Department of Engineering Technology |
| Approved as Adopter |
November 11, 2011 |
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URL |
http://technology.asu.edu/engrtech |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2011/2012 academic year |
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Course title |
Manufacturing Simulation |
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Course code |
MET 415/515 |
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Instructor |
Dr. Sharon Lewis |
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Course dates |
January 5 to April 24, 2012 |
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Course concepts |
In depth evaluation of the application and use of computer simulation modeling in a manufacturing enterprise. |
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Anticipated students |
20 |
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Fairfield University |
New January 12, 2012 |
School of Engineering
Management of Technology |
Fairfield, CT USA |
| University |
Fairfield University |
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| Department |
School of Engineering
Management of Technology |
| Approved as Adopter |
January 12, 2012 |
URL |
http://www.fairfield.edu/soe/msmot_index.html |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2012 academic year |
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Course title |
Supply Chain Design
DM 405-01 |
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Instructor |
Jim Curry |
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Course dates |
January 17 to May 15, 2012 |
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Course concepts |
The objective of this course is to introduce students to techniques to validate and improve typical supply chain processes from an operations management perspective. Students will learn how to analyze the various materials, information and financial flows within a supply chain, and how simulation can be used to analyze process design, cycle time, asset utilization, variability and customer service levels. Students will also learn how to plan a simulation project - data requirements, sensitivity analysis, and statistical tools. |
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Anticipated students |
25 |
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Hofstra University |
New November 28, 2011 |
Frank G. Zarb School of Business
Department of Management, Entrepreneurship and General Business |
Hempstead, NY USA |
| University |
Hofstra University |
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| Department |
Frank G. Zarb School of Business
Department of Management, Entrepreneurship and General Business |
| Approved as Adopter |
November 28, 2011 |
URL |
http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/Zarb/MGMT/index.html |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2011/2012 academic year |
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Course title |
Business Process Management |
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Instructor |
Dr. Kaushik Sengupta |
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Course dates |
January 26 to May 19, 2012 |
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Course concepts |
A course in the design and analysis of business process. Students will be introduced to the concept of business processes, including their cross-functional nature, design, operation, and management. Students will design, chart, and analyze processes and analyze business cases using the ExtendSim simulation software.
As part of the outcomes from the course, students will know how to communicate orally and in written format, and students will be able to critically analyze business problems from a process perspective and improve businesses through the analysis. Simulation models using ExtendSim will be developed and analyzed. |
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Anticipated students |
25 |
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Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne |
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| Doermer School of Business |
| Fort Wayne, IN USA |
| University |
Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne |
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| Department |
Doermer School of Business |
| Approved as Adopter |
April 2011 |
URL |
http://new.ipfw.edu/management-marketing/ |
| Number of courses using ExtendSim |
1 year-long course
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| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2010/2011 academic year |
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Course title |
Operations Management in the Supply Chain |
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Instructor |
Robert Palevich |
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Course dates |
May 1, 2011 to May 8, 2012 |
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Course objectives |
Discrete simulation. Layout factory planning and simulation of people productivity. |
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Anticipated students |
30 |
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Missouri State University |
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IAE Business School
Operations and Technology Management Area |
Springfield, MO USA |
| University |
Missouri State University |
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| Department |
College of Business Administration
Department of Management
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| Approved as Adopter |
June 22, 2011 |
URL |
http://mgt.missouristate.edu/ |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2010/2011 academic year |
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Ohio State University |
| Fisher College of Business |
| Columbus, OH USA |
| University |
Ohio State University |
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| Department |
Fisher College of Business |
| Approved as Adopter |
January 2011 |
URL |
http://www.fisher.osu.edu |
| Number of courses using ExtendSim |
2
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| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2010/2011 academic year |
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Course title |
Operations Management and Information System |
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Course code |
MGT733 |
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Dates |
March 28 to June 9, 2011 |
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Concepts taught in course |
Discrete simulation modeling |
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ExtendSim use in course |
ExtendSim will be used in group model building sessions for finance modelling and simulation. |
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Estimated enrollment |
30 |
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Course title |
Simulation Risk and Decision Making |
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Course code |
MGT855 |
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Dates |
March 28 to June 9, 2011 |
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Concepts taught in course |
Discrete simulation modeling |
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Overview of course |
This course focuses on analyzing management decisions that involve uncertainty, risk, and complexity with a strong emphasis on applications and on the use of appropriate decision analysis techniques and software tools. Students will do in-class assignments and homework using the software and one or more small-team projects that utilize the tools and techniques covered in class. |
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Estimated enrollment |
50 |
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Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg |
click here to read about ExtendSim usage in Summer 2011 courses |
| Institute of Logistics and Material Handling Systems |
| Magdeburg, Germany |
| University |
Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg |
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| Department |
Institute of Logistics and Material Handling Systems |
| Approved as Adopter |
September 2010 |
URL |
www.ilm.ovgu.de |
Usage report for Summer Semester 2010-2011
(April 1 to September 30, 2011) |
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Which course has utilized and who has used ExtendSim? |
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ExtendSim was used within three classes at the Masters level as described below.
Within the class "Logistics Project Work Planning", ExtendSim was used by 6
students. ExtendSim was available on 31 work stations in the computer lab and the
students had access to these computers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition,
two teachers had a fully featured license on their computers. All students had a basic
knowledge in the area of simulations, based on at least two introductory courses in
discrete event, as well as in continuous simulation concepts. Furthermore, all
students were familiar with general statistical and analytic methods. The targets of
learning in the course can be summarized in the following:
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Specialized knowledge in logistics, modeling and simulation, theory of probability and statistics, project management and problem solving, data collection and analysis. |
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Comprehension of dynamic logistics phenomena, identification of possibilities and understanding of algorithms to stochastically generate data. |
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Knowledge about the processes of simulation. |
The task for the simulation project was the simulation based dimensioning of a logistics center: "Finished goods are delivered from different production sites to a logistics center. In this center, the products will be consolidated, stored, picked, packed, and shipped. A logistics planner has been assigned the task to determine the correct dimensions for the distinct areas of the logistics center. Furthermore, he is supposed to calculate the required resources such as forklifts or picking staff to ensure seamless operations. The planner has already recorded data and processes and has begun to develop a conceptual model for simulation. The planner, however,
has unexpectedly left the company and is no longer available. It would be your job to
take over his tasks. As of now, there is only the data of your predecessor
available. Further, more detailed data will be provided." |
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Furthermore, ExtendSim was used in the class "Model Based Analysis of
Logistics Networks" with about 20 students. ExtendSim was utilized to show simulation techniques and real-world examples. The students also had access to the
computer lab, described above, and could train their simulation skills. The basic
contents of this course were:
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Introduction of simulation tool: ExtendSim |
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Presentation and analysis of results |
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Visualization of results |
All students in this course had a good knowledge of simulation and were trained in
different simulation studies. |
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Finally, ExtendSim was used in the class "Application of Logistics
Simulation" with 5 students. ExtendSim was utilized to show simulation techniques
and real-world examples. The basic contents of this course were:
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Introduction of simulation tool: ExtendSim |
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Presentation and analysis of results |
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Visualization of results |
All students in this course had a good knowledge of simulation and were trained in
different simulation studies. |
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Which advantages using ExtendSim could be observed? |
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Based on the topics of the lectures and topics of the simulation projects, the students
used the discrete-event-oriented part of ExtendSim. The following libraries were
relevant to processing the projects:
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Item Library (e.g., Create, Get, Information, …) |
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Value Library (e.g., Constant, Equation, Display Value, …) |
Besides libraries, functions like the internal ExtendSim databases were used, as well
as the possibility of linking data to Microsoft Excel documents.
The main advantages which could be seen were the simple and fast training period
and the intuitive usage of almost all objects. Very valuable were the items for storing
data and processing data transformation/manipulation. Furthermore, the object "Equation" was frequently used to perform analysis and to prevent the usage of other
graphical items. |
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Which features did we miss in ExtendSim? |
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The ExtendSim manual can be used to read more about specific items and objects
and is very extensive. Nonetheless, the structure is non-redundant and that makes it
difficult, especially for non-native English speakers, to understand every detail. That
led to problems in understanding all the configuration possibilities of blocks and to
additional training support.
In addition, the great possibility to model almost everything in a graphical way makes
it difficult for beginners to structure their models in a clean way. |
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Usage report for Winter Semester 2010-2011
(October 1, 2010 – March 31, 2011) |
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Which course has utilized and who has used ExtendSim? |
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Within the bachelor course “Logistics project work simulation” (Bachelor level course taught in Winter 2010-11) ExtendSim was used by about 100 students. ExtendSim was available on 31 work stations in the computer lab and the students had access to these computers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, three teachers had a fully featured license on their computers. All students had a basic knowledge in the area of simulations, based on at least two introductory courses in discrete event, as well as in continuous simulation concepts. Furthermore, all students were familiar with general statistical and analytic methods. The targets of learning in the course can be summarized in the following:
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Processing an own simulation project within a group of 8 students. |
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Specialized knowledge in logistics, modeling and simulation, theory of probability and statistics, project management and problem solving, data collection and analysis. |
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Comprehension of dynamic logistics phenomena, identification of possibilities and understanding of algorithms to generate stochastically data. |
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Knowledge about the processes of simulation. |
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Training of skills in innovations: Generation of variants, planning of experiments. |
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The resulting simulation projects, meaning the ExtendSim models, will be available for download soon. The topics of the simulation projects were:
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Simulation of a supply chain between a producer and a market and evaluation of different order strategies. |
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Simulation of a material flow within a production line and evaluation of different setting-up strategies. |
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Simulation of a distribution network for delivery to different customers. |
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Simulation of a transportation network and comparison of different routing planning algorithms. |
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Simulation of a material transportation system between different stages in a production line. |
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Aside from this course, ExtendSim was used in “Modeling of logistics networks” (a Master level course taught in Winter 2010-11) by about 30 students. ExtendSim was utilized to show simulation techniques and real-world examples. The students also had access to the computer lab, described above, and could train their simulation skills. The basic contents of this course were:
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Basic knowledge of simulation: definitions, models of material flows, classes of logistics resources and objects, flow diagram, graph and matrixes, funnel model and waiting queue model |
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Description and valuation quantities for logistics processes |
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Introduction of simulation tool: ExtendSim |
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Introduction of planning tool: 4flow vista |
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Planning and implementation of experiments |
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Presentation and analysis of results |
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Development of models |
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Preparation and implementation of simulation models |
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Visualization of results |
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SCOR model, ARIS model and process chain model |
All students in this course had a good knowledge of simulation and were trained in different simulation studies. |
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Which advantages using ExtendSim could be observed? |
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Based on the topics of the lectures and topics of the simulation projects, the students used the discrete-event-oriented part of ExtendSim. The following libraries were relevant to processing the projects:
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Item Library (e.g., Create, Get, Information, …) |
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Value Library (e.g., Constant, Equation, Display Value, …) |
Besides libraries, functions like the internal ExtendSim databases were used, as well as the possibility of linking data to Microsoft Excel documents.
The main advantages which could be seen were the simple and fast training period and the intuitive usage of almost all objects. Very valuable were the items for storing data and processing data transformation/manipulation. Furthermore, the object “Equation” was frequently used to perform analysis and to prevent the usage of other graphical items. |
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Which features did we miss in ExtendSim? |
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The ExtendSim manual can be used to read more about specific items and objects and is very extensive. Nonetheless, the structure is non-redundant and that makes it difficult, especially for non-native English speakers, to understand every detail. That led to problems in understanding all the configuration possibilities of blocks and to additional training support.
In addition, the great possibility to model almost everything in a graphical way makes it difficult for beginners to structure their models in a clean way. |
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| Future courses that will use ExtendSim |
In the Winter Semester (October 1, 2011 –March 31, 2012) the following courses will
use ExtendSim as a simulation and training tool. |
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Logistics project work simulation
Contents will be:
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Processing an own simulation project within a group of 8 students. |
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Specialized knowledge in logistics, modeling and simulation, theory of
probability and statistics, project management and problem solving, data
collection and analysis. |
 |
Comprehension of dynamic logistics phenomena, identification of possibilities
and understanding of algorithms to generate stochastically data. |
 |
Knowledge about the processes of simulation. |
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Specialized knowledge in logistics, modeling and simulation, theory of
probability and statistics, project management and problem solving, data
collection and analysis. |
The topics of the simulation projects were:
 |
Simulation of a supply chain between a producer and a market and evaluation
of different order strategies. |
 |
Simulation of a material flow within a production line and evaluation of different
setting-up strategies. |
 |
Simulation of a distribution network for delivery to different customers. |
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Simulation of a transportation network and comparison of different routing
planning algorithms. |
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Simulation of a material transportation system between different stages in a
production line. |
Modeling of logistics networks
The basic contents of this course will be:
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Basic knowledge of simulation: definitions, models of material flows, classes of
logistics resources and objects, flow diagram, graph and matrixes, funnel model
and waiting queue model |
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Description and valuation quantities for logistics processes |
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Introduction of simulation tool: ExtendSim |
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Introduction of planning tool: 4flow vista |
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Planning and implementation of experiments |
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Presentation and analysis of results |
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Development of models |
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Preparation and implementation of simulation models |
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Visualization of results |
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SCOR model, ARIS model and process chain model |
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St. Joseph's University |
click here to read about ExtendSim usage in Summer and Spring 2011 courses |
| Haub School Of Business |
| Philadelphia, PA USA |
| University |
St. Joseph's University |
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| Department |
Haub School of Business
Department of Decision and System Sciences |
| Approved as Adopter |
April 2011 |
URL |
http://www.sju.edu/academics/hsb/dss/index.html |
Usage report for Summer 2011
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Course title |
Applied Business Intelligence |
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Course code |
DSS 430 |
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Instructor |
Dr. Virginia M. Miori |
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Course dates |
July 4 to September 4, 2011 |
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Course objectives |
The course DSS 430 is an undergraduate version of the DSS 650. The content and syllabus remain the same, but this course is offered to particularly promising undergraduates. |
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Anticipated students |
2 |
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Dr. Miori's Report |
The course ran during the months of July and August. It was a graduate course of all online students. I was able to incorporate aspects of the User Guide (a really nice document, by the way) along with my own examples into the class. I'm happy to report that there were no instances in which Extendsim displayed bugs. In addition, I got a number of quite favorable comments about the capabilities of the software. Several students expressed an interest in using the software in their jobs as well.
A you have moved forward in versions of Extendsim, you have made some great changes. I first used version 6 and found it to be somewhat cumbersome as did my students. Version 8 has put an end to all of this. I truly enjoy using and teaching this software. It is definitely a challenge for the less logical/quantitative students, but an incredibly valuable learning tool in all cases.
For the fall semester, we are rolling out the use of the network version. |
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Usage report for Spring Semester 2011
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Course title |
Applied Business Intelligence |
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Course code |
DSS 650 (online course) |
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Instructor |
Dr. Virginia M. Miori |
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Semester |
Spring 2011 |
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Number of students |
12 students who used ExtendSim half of the semester |
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Course objectives |
Using Laguna and Marklund text Business Process Modeling, Simulation and Design in conjunction with ExtendSim, this course combines perspectives of business along with industrial and systems engineering to create a broad, quantitative modeling approach.
The main objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the many analytical tools that can be used to model, analyze, understand, and ultimately design business process. Discrete event simulation is among the most powerful of these tools.
Four sections of this graduate course are offered annually, reaching approximately 80 students. The course is in its third year. |
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Report |
Students were given the option to use Extend 6 (provided with the Laguna/Marklund text) or ExtendSim 8 as provided through the ExtendSim Adopter program.
At the start of the semester, solutions to problems from the book were created in ExtendSim 8 giving Dr. Miori the opportunity to fully examine the capabilities and improvements in version 8. I was generally very pleased. ... I also referenced the User Guide extensively and found it to be complete and helpful.
Students found ExtendSim 8 to be much more direct and logical than Extend 6. Teaching ExtendSim 8 was found to be much easier. Dr. Miori has used a number of different complex simulation languages in the past and feels that ExtendSim certainly is a very solid and useful language.
Students all felt that this was a great product to learn and it assisted them in fully understanding process mapping and subsequent simulation/what-if analysis. |
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St. Mary's University |
click here to read about ExtendSim usage in Summer and Fall 2011 courses |
St. Mary's University
School of Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) |
San Antonio, TX USA |
| University |
St. Mary's University |
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| Department |
School of Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET)
Department of Computer Science |
| Approved as Adopter |
September 12, 2011 |
URL |
http://www.stmarytx.edu/set/index.php?site=ComputerScience |
Usage report for Fall Semester 2011
(August to December 2011) |
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Course title |
Advanced Topics - Modeling and Simulation
(undergrad and graduate cross-listed)
COM 671 |
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Instructor |
Pamela K. Fink |
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Course concepts |
In the Fall 2011 semester, Prof. Fink used ExtendSim in the Modeling and Simulation class which is offered every couple of years. The course is designed to cover four major areas of modeling, including physical modeling, process modeling, intelligent agent modeling, and 3-D visual modeling. These areas are central to the course as the course is part of a concentration in computer gaming. ExtendSim is taught and used explicitly for the process modeling component of the course, though the students are also allowed to use it in the intelligent agent modeling portion if they so chose. The course is cross-listed as an undergraduate and graduate level course.
In the Fall of 2011, 8 students enrolled in the course: 4 undegrads and 4 graduates. Undergrads were allowed to work in pairs if they so chose, so a total of 7 projects were generated in the course using ExtendSim. In order to get the knowledge needed on a process to model, it was suggested that students go to the Science Channel's Web site "How It's Made", so the subjects selected almost all had to do with manufacturing, though one model had to do with how a device functions. For further details, click here to see the actual assignment. The following were the areas modeled by the students:
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How a speaker works |
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Manufacture of a pocket knife |
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Manufacture of a baseball |
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Manufacture of an 1873 model Colt |
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Manufacture of an ice cream cone |
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Manufacture of a fireman's helmet |
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Manufacture of a CRT |
There was quite a diverse set of areas chosen by the students and, based on their subject area, each used different libraries. One studetn even created a few blocks for her own library. Most also used the hierarchical capability of the tool, and several used the graphical user interface capabilities. |
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Universidad Austral |
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IAE Business School
Operations and Technology Management Area |
Pilar, Argentina |
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Universidad del Mar |
Escuela de Ingenieria
School of Engineering |
| Viña del Mar, Chile |
| University |
Universidad del Mar |
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| Department |
Escuela de Ingenieria
School of Engineering |
| Approved as Adopter |
January 2011 |
URL |
http://www.ingenieria.udelmar.cl |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2010/2011 academic year |
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Course title |
Simulacion |
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Course code |
SIMLA-01C1 |
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Course dates |
July 21 to December 10, 2011 |
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Course objectives |
General continuous and discrete event simulation techniques will be taught with ExtendSim and Pascal. |
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ExtendSim use in course |
Using eTextbook ExtendSim for Discrete-Event System Simulation in conjunction with Discrete-Event System Simulation, by Jerry Banks, et al, 5th edition |
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Universita Di Roma "La Sapienza" |
New December 21, 2011 |
Facoltà di Ingegneria dell'informazione, Informatica e Statistica
Dipartimenti Scienze Statistiche |
Rome, Italy |
| University |
Universita Di Roma "La Sapienza" |
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| Department |
Facoltà di Ingegneria dell'informazione, Informatica e Statistica
Dipartimenti Scienze Statistiche |
| Approved as Adopter |
December 21, 2011 |
URL |
http://disd.sta.uniroma1.it/ |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2012 academic year |
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University of Auckland |
New November 23, 2011 |
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
Auckland, New Zealand |
| University |
University of Auckland |
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| Department |
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Approved as Adopter |
November 23, 2011 |
URL |
http://www.cee.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/ |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2011/2012 academic year |
|
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University of Delaware |
| Alfred Lerner School of Business & Economics |
| Newark, DE USA |
| University |
University of Delaware |
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| Department |
Alfred Lerner School of Business & Economics
Department of Business Administration |
| Approved as Adopter |
February 2011 |
URL |
www.lerner.udel.edu/departments/business-administration |
| Number of courses using ExtendSim |
1 |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2010/2011 academic year |
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Course title |
Problem Structing for Operations Decision Making |
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Course code |
BUAD 449 |
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Dates |
February 7 to May 17, 2011 |
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Concepts taught in course |
BUAD 449 emphasizes structuring of operations management (OM) problems to facilitate improvement of business processes. Topics include design (or redesign) of customer service processes, focusing on cycle time reduction, design of manufacturing, service, and logistics processes, emphasizing lead time reduction and the use of technology to support design activities. |
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ExtendSim use in course |
The final project will involve the use of ExtendSim to simulate an existing business process. Working in teams, changes to a system will be suggested and performance of the modified process with status quo to determine the extent of changes that have been realized will be compared. |
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Estimated enrollment |
32 |
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University of Rochester |
click here to read about ExtendSim usage in Fall 2010 course |
| William E Simon Graduate School of Business Administration |
| Rochester, NY USA |
| University |
University of Rochester |
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| Department |
William E Simon Graduate School of Business Administration |
| Approved as Adopter |
September 2010 |
URL |
http://www.simon.rochester.edu |
| Usage report for Fall Semester 2010 |
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Course title |
Service Operations Management |
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Course code |
OMG 412 |
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Instructor |
Professor Phil Lederer |
| |
Semester |
Fall 2010 |
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Number of students |
20 |
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Course objectives |
The service sector dominates the economies of most developed nations. Worldwide, services account for 64% of GDP and 40% of employment, and in the United States the service sector accounts for 76% of GDP and 85% of employment. In addition to the "pure" service sector, the delivery and support of many goods involves a significant service component. The challenges involved in managing services have been complicated by globalization, for many services are now delivered by service supply chains that involve multiple firms and cross national boundaries.
In this class students will develop both quantitative tools and qualitative models in ExtendSim that will help to manage in this complex environment. The class focuses on four topics: (i) managing variability in services, (ii) the operations/marketing interface, (iii) demand and revenue management and (iv) process improvement in services. |
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Report |
I would like to report on my use of the simulation package in my MBA course: OMG
412: Service Operations Management in the Fall 2010. This is a second year elective
course taken by about 20 students.
The ExtendSim simulation package was a central part of the course. I attach a syllabus of the class
which shows sequence to topics taught, and specifically how I used ExtendSim.
The software fit quite well into the topic of the course which was managing service
systems. In terms of applications, the package was used by students to model various
service operations. Many of the cases were based upon Harvard Business School cases
(BAT, Benihana, CVS).
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A car wash (an exercise from ExtendSim examples) |
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Police dispatching policies for patrol cars |
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Managing a technical call center and priority rules (BAT case) |
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Capacity analysis of a restaurant (Benihana of Tokyo) |
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Process improvement of a retail drug store (CVS case) |
What is most enlightening is the list of homework assignments related to ExtendSim.
Training materials
I was greatly aided by Robin Clark who shared power point slides which provided a
quick and useful introduction to using ExtendSim. He also was very helfpful to me in
learning some of the more obscure features of the package.
I helped my students learn ExtendSim by making a series of video tutorials which I
posted on the class website. The tutorials were each about 10-20 minutes long and
focused on an increasingly complex set of modeling skills. In all I made 6 tutorials. The
students really liked "seeing how it was done" I made sure to pace them slowly enough
so that the features of ExtendSim could be absorbed. I used the Macintosh software
called "Screenflow" to capture the ExtendSim screen and provided verbal narration. |
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| Future courses that will use ExtendSim |
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Course title |
Service Operations Management |
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Course code |
OMG 412 |
| |
Instructor |
Professor Phil Lederer |
| |
Course dates |
Fall 2011 |
| |
Course objectives |
Similar to Fall 2010. |
| |
Anticipated students |
25 |
|
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University of Southern California |
Renewed January 16, 2012 |
Marshall School of Business
Information & Operations Management |
click here to read about ExtendSim usage in Spring 2011 course |
| Los Angeles, CA USA |
| University |
University of Southern California |
 |
| Department |
Marshall School of Business
Information & Operations Management |
| Approved as Adopter |
January 2011;
renewed January 2012
|
URL |
http://www.marshall.usc.edu/iom/ |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2012 academic year |
 |
Course title |
Dynamic Programming and Markov Decision Processes
IOM-677
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Instructor |
Amy Ward |
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Course dates |
January 9 to April 27, 2012 |
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Course concepts |
Sequential decision making under uncertainty. ExtendSim will be used to simulate policy performance, especially in cases where the problem is not tractable analytically. |
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Anticipated students |
10 |
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Usage report for Spring Semester 2011
(January 15 to April 29, 2011) |
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Course title |
Queueing and Stochastic Networks |
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Course code |
IOM 674 |
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Instructor |
Amy Ward |
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Course dates |
January 15 to April 29, 2011 |
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Course objectives |
Queueing phenomena that arise in engineering and
business systems will be modeled and analyzed in this course. The queueing is generated by resource contention when there is uncertainty. |
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Students enrolled |
9 - PhD candidates |
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Summary |
Early on in the course, I devoted one lecture to the basics of using ExtendSim, and demonstrated to the students how to build a couple basic queueing models in ExtendSim. We then discussed how to estimate performance measures for those models such as the mean time in queue. This allowed me to assign homework problems to the students that required the use of ExtendSim. The problems I assigned were as follows:
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HW #2, Problem 4. |
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The students were asked to find the limiting probabilities, and the expected number of customers waiting at each station, for a particular Jackson network configuration. This can be done
through exact analytic formula (and that exact analysis was taught in class). The students were then asked to simulate the network using ExtendSim, and to see that their simulation answers matched their analytic answers. |
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HW #4, Problem 2. |
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The students were asked to develop a heavy-traffic approximation for the mean
number of customers in the system for a GI/GI/1 queue, under two different distributional assumptions for
the service times that were not exponential. Note that there are no exact analytic formulae for steadystate
performance measures for this system, and so the students had to rely on approximation formulae
(which we developed in class). The students were then asked to simulate the GI/GI/1 queue using Extend
in order to understand the situations in which their approximation formulae performed well. |
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HW #4, Problem 3. |
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The students were asked to develop a heavy traffic approximation for the mean
number of customers at each station in a network that consisted of two GI/GI/1 queues in tandem. Again,
there are no exact analytic formulae available and so the students had to rely on approximation formulae.
The students were then asked to simulate the network using Extend in order to see how their approximation formulae performed. |
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Benefits of using ExtendSim |
I view the use of ExtendSim as very important for the course. In order for the students to truly understand
how to develop and use analytic approximation formulae for queueing networks that cannot be analyzed
exactly, it is extremely helpful for them to also simulate the network. The simulation allows them to
understand how to apply their approximation formulae to estimate performance measures of interest, and to
know when there approximation formulae will work well vs when their approximation formulae may not work
well.
Please also see my Homeworks #2 and #4 for the exact questions referenced above.
I am very appreciative for having the use of ExtendSim for this course. Thank you.
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University of Tennessee |
Renewed January 9, 2012 |
College of Business
Statistics, Operations and Management Science |
click here to read about ExtendSim usage in Winter 2011courses |
| Knoxville, TN USA |
| University |
University of Tennessee |
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| Department |
College of Business
Statistics, Operations, and Management Science |
| Approved as Adopter |
January 2011 |
URL |
http://bus.utk.edu/soms/ and
http://bus.utk.edu/soms/corporate/index.htm |
| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2010/2011 academic year |
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Course title |
Simulation and Decision Analytics |
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Course code |
MS 532 |
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Course dates |
January 13 to April 29, 2011 |
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Course objectives |
This class demonstrates effective decision making by exposing students to various modeling techniques from Simulation and Decision Analysis, including decision trees, influence diagrams, decision making under risk and uncertainty, Monte-Carlo and discrete-event simulation. Emphasis will be placed on real-world applications, including capacity management, process analysis, and health care management. |
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ExtendSim use in course |
Using eTextbook ExtendSim for Discrete-Event System Simulation in conjunction with Discrete-Event System Simulation, by Jerry Banks, et al, 5th edition |
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| Summary of ExtendSim usage in 2011 |
MS 532 - Decision Analytics and Simulation is a class that is part of the M.S. program in Business Analytics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. ExtendSim 8 was used in MS 532 during the Spring semester 2011, as a portion of the class curriculum focuses on modeling business processes using discrete-event simulation software.
In MS 532, students worked on simulating scenarios relating to inventory management, waiting line management, resource management, store layout analysis, and the modeling of retail operations. Students used ExtendSim to work on three homework assignments and one end-of-term class project. The pedagogical benefits attained through the use of ExtendSim in the class include:
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student exposure to an industry-leading discrete-event simulation environment. |
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demonstration of the applications of simulation concepts in an integrated, GUI-driven environment (including elements of problem abstraction and modeling, sensitivity analysis and experimentation, heuristic optimization, animation and visualization, etc.). |
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helping students develop an intuitive, visual understanding of system dynamics (in contrast to, for example, formal treatments of resource management in the form of traditional queueing models). |
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providing students with the ability to easily and quickly perform sensitivity analyses for system improvement. |
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improving students' problem solving techniques and their ability to grasp the importance of robustness and flexibility as system design principles. |
Further, note that the use of ExtendSim in MS 532 was strictly limited to teaching simulation concepts. Moreover, the software was not used for any research activities or commercial purposes during 2011. |
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Wroclaw University of Technology |
click here to read about ExtendSim usage in Spring 2011 course |
| Institute of Organization and Management |
| Wroclaw, Poland |
| University |
Wroclaw University of Technology |
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| Department |
Institute of Organization and Management |
| Approved as Adopter |
November 2010 |
URL |
http://www.ioz.pwr.wroc.pl |
| Number of courses using ExtendSim |
4 |
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| Courses using ExtendSim in the 2010/2011 academic year |
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Course title |
Financial Simulation Models |
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Course code |
IEZ4312L |
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Course description |
Students learn the basic concepts of modelling and simulation methodology with its applications in financial management. |
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ExtendSim use in course |
ExtendSim will be used in group model building sessions for finance modelling and simulation. |
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Course title |
Financial analysis with applications of company models |
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Course code |
FBZ2111S & FBZ2111W |
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Level |
Basic mandatory course |
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Language of lecturer |
Polish |
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Course description |
Simulation models for production, managerial, logistic, material and financial, accounting system, analytic system, business graphics, inference process and their integration in simulation models of business simulation games are discussed in this course. Several computer tools were applied: spreadsheet - MS Excel, simulation modeling environment – ExtendSim, expert system shell – Clips. |
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ExtendSim use in course |
After completion of the course, students will be able to analyze and use ExtendSim to model basic processes and subsystems existing within a given company, to formulate modules for economic computer games, to build basic financial statements on the base of results from models, to prepare the production rules for analytical proposal and to integrate these models with other computer tools useful for financial analysis. |
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Course title |
Simulation modeling |
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Course code |
IEZ2484L & IEZ2484W |
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Level |
Basic mandatory course |
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Language of lecturer |
Polish |
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Course description |
The conceptual foundations of simulation modelling will be presented. The detailed process of building simulation models applying different modelling approaches will be described. |
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ExtendSim use in course |
The practical part of the course will be focused on simulation model development, experimental design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of output data using ExtendSim. |
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Course title |
Business Process Modelling |
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Course code |
ZMZ2353W & ZMZ2353S & ZMZ2353P |
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Level |
Advanced mandatory course |
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Language course taught in |
English |
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Course description |
Basic concepts of identification, description, modelling and experiment/simulation methodology with its applications in management of business & economic systems, particularly processes in projects and enterprises will be taught. |
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ExtendSim use in course |
ExtendSim will be used as an example of a simulation tool. |
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| Summary of ExtendSim usage in Wroclaw courses |
This form of licensing (Academic Network License awarded to ExtendSim Adopters) made it easier for me to conduct classes and allowed my students to better prepare for tests.
For the first time, I taught the subject "Financial analysis of company applications with models". It consisted of lecture and seminars. During the lectures, I presented, among others, the construction of financial statements (balance, incomes etc.) in ExtendSim. Of course, also discussed its modules, such as the calculation of income and expenses for this activity-based costing.
In the seminar portion of the course, students created financial simulation models of selected economic games. Here, the tool was arbitrary, but some groups chose to implement their model in ExtendSim - due to the readability of models created in ExtendSim was particularly didactic.
Preparing for this course inspired me to prepare another paper in which I will to formulate a methodology of modeling assumptions in financial simulations in the near future. The paper will roughly describe the multiplication of objects: one object for "things" and second object for "money".
The courses in "Simulation Modeling" I taught, ran like previous years.
When it comes to license renewal that I will be very grateful if it could be renewed. |
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Zurich University of Applied Sciences |
| School of Engineering |
| Winterthur, Switzerland |
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