Performance comparison of spreadsheet simulation and simulation languages: a case example to minimise textile production cost

This paper reports the development of a spreadsheet simulation model of a textile production situation using the spreadsheet Excel-7.0 to minimise the production cost through the evaluation of man-machine utilisation with a view to demonstrate the methodology of structuring a production simulation model in spreadsheet environment without using any simulation language. The output performance of the spreadsheet simulation model has been compared with those of the same production simulation models developed by using the simulation language GPSS/H and the high level language FORTRAN through the analysis of simulation results, computer time and the length and efforts of programming etc. with the objective to access the practical usability and the modelling capability of a modern spreadsheet to simulate a production system.