CellSim.XLS and CellSim.XLSM Factory Simulation
on a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
by John O. McClain Links: [ Downloading
| Errors | Free Software | John McClain's Page ] 25 Oct 2007
CellSim is now compatible with both Excel 2003 and Excel 2007. If you use Excel 2007, the number of elements in the model is much greater, because the new Excel allows over 16,000 columns, compared to only 256 in earlier versions.
Multiple Processes at each Machine allow you to explore questions of priority, setup time, lot size and much more. In addition, each Process has controls that determine the conditions under which it is allowed to run. A major innovation is that the controls can be based on either Stock Level or Inventory Position. Since the latter is based on "actual + promised" inventory, this makes it possible to simulate a Kanban system, in which only one Machine responds to a given request for inventory.
"Instructions" are given on a sheet in the CellSim file, and simple help is available in the boxes on the "Model" worksheet.
Packaged along with the model (in a self-extracting zip file) are a number of other files. One is a PDF document with detailed instructions and examples of how to use the new features. Demo files are included for each example. The PDF document also includes a series of Exercises, each of which also has a file for your convenience.
Simulation results are stored in a separate file, along with the details of the model from which the results were generated. This allows you to store a model and its results, and later to re-load that model and continue the runs. Of course, all of Excel's functions and graphs may be used to summarize and analyze the results.
This is a very simple factory simulator, intended for teaching purposes. You
are welcome to use it in any manner, and change it as you see fit. This model
comes without any guarantee whatsoever, and is distributed free of charge. It
is based on ideas first developed at Cornell in the factory simulation program
known as XCELL+, written by
Downloading CellSim
The Zip file containing CellSim, examples, demonstration models, and
instructions is about 0.9 megabytes.
|
Compatibility |
Either Excel 2003 or 2007 |
Excel 2007 only |
|
Limits |
256 columns (smaller models) |
16,384 columns (larger models) |
|
File size |
742 KB |
868 KB |
|
Download Links |
If you want Excel 2003 to be able to run Excel 2007 files, Click Here
to obtain Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack.
If CellSim
Doesn't Work:
Some users find that the buttons in CellSim do not work. If this happens, Excel
has automatically disabled the macros that make it run.
Instructions for fixing this are on a sheet named Warning, contained in the file.
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