Simulation
 

Wednesday February 20, 2002
 

Presented by:
 

R. Alan Bowman, Union College
 

Computer simulation is a natural tool for studying the effects of variability in a large variety of applications. It is ideally suited for examining the effects of activity time variability (uncertainty) on the performance of a project in terms of meeting its schedule. We will look briefly at how computer simulations, in general, work and the different types of software that allow simulations to be performed. We will look in more detail at insights that can be obtained by simulating projects and the key findings of recent research on this topic.

Dr. Bowman is an Associate Professor at the Graduate Management Institutes at Union College. He has a Ph.D. and M.S. from Cornell University and an M.B.A. and B.S. from Arizona State University. Dr. Bowman is interested in the effects of variability on performance of industrial systems and on the ability to make effective decisions for managing those systems.

His publications address topics such as using a cyclic schedule in a manufacturing facility with product and process variability; managing material replenishment in truckload-sized order when demand is variable; and managing projects when activity times are variable. He makes use of management science approaches (especially probability modes and computer simulations) to support effective management decision making in the areas of inventory management, productions scheduling, and project management.