POM Lab

Time Series Forecasting -- Help Screen

This program computes forecasts for time series data. You can choose
from six different forecasting methods to use.

First enter the number of periods of past data, enter the name of
the variable you want to forecast, and enter the number of most
recent periods to be used in computing MAD. Next enter the past data
in the grid on the left. Then select one of the six forecasting
methods to use, and enter values for the necessary parameters
depending on which forecasting method you choose.

'Simple Moving Average' parameters:

Enter the number of periods to be averaged (AP).

'Weighted Moving Average' parameters:

Enter the number of periods to be averaged (AP). Then enter the
weight (as a fraction) for each period (e.g., for 25% weight enter .
25 and not 25).

'Simple Exponential Smoothing' parameters:

Enter the smoothing constant (alpha) and the beginning forecast
value assumed for period 1. (The value for alpha should be between 0
and 1.)

'Exponential Smoothing with Trend' parameters:

Enter the smoothing constant (alpha) and the beginning forecast
value assumed for period 1. Enter the smoothing constant (beta) and
the beginning trend value. (The values for alpha and beta should be
between 0 and 1.)

'Time Series Regression' parameters:

Enter the number of periods to forecast and the percent confidence
interval for forecast ranging.

'Seasonalized Time Series Regression' parameters:

Enter the number of periods to forecast and the percent confidence
interval for forecast ranging. Enter the number of different seasons
(i.e., quarterly=4). Enter the season number for period 1 (e.g.,
enter 3 if period 1 represents the 3rd season).
Causal Regression Forecasting -- Help Screen

This program computes forecasts using simple linear regression or

multiple regression. For simple regression, enter 1 for the number
of independent variables.

First enter the number of periods of past data, enter the name of
the variable you want to forecast, enter the number of periods to
forecast, enter the percent confidence interval for forecast
ranging, enter the number of most recent periods to be used in
computing MAD, and enter the number of independent variables. Then
enter the name of each independent variable. Next enter the past
data in the grid on the left. Finally enter the values of the
independent variables for future periods to be forecasted, in the
grid at the bottom right.

inear Programming -- Help Screen

This program solves linear programming formulations.

First select whether you have a Minimize or Maximize problem. Then

enter the number of decision variables and the number of
constraints. After the grid at the bottom is rebuilt, enter the
objective function coefficients. For each constraint, enter the
coefficient for each variable, whether the constraint is <=, =, or
>=, and the right-hand-side (RHS) value.

Assignment Problem -- Help Screen

This program solves assignment problems for n objects assigned to n

destinations.

First select whether you have a Minimize or Maximize problem. Then

enter the number of objects to be assigned. Next enter the cost or
profit of each object assigned to each destination. If a particular
assignment is not possible, then enter a large cost (e.g., 999999)
for a Minimize problem, or a very negative profit (e.g., -999999)
for a Maximize problem.

Transportation Problem -- Help Screen

This program solves transportation problems.

First enter the number of sources and destinations. Then enter the
unit shipping cost from each source to each destination, the
capacity of each source, and the requirement of each destination. If
a particular shipping route is not allowed, then enter a large cost
(e.g., 999999).
__
Line Balancing -- Help Screen

This program solves line balancing problems.

'General' tab instructions:
First enter the number of tasks. Then select whether you want to
limit the ways that tasks can be combined into work stations, such
as limiting the maximum number of tasks in a work station or
specifying compatibility groups for tasks. If you want to limit the
maximum number of tasks allowed in a work station, then enter the
maximum number allowed. If you want to specify compatibility groups,
enter the number of groups.

'Tasks' tab instructions:

For each task, enter the task name, the task time duration, the
number of immediate precedent tasks, and the names of all immediate
precedent tasks.

'Compat. Grps.' tab instructions:

You must have first entered the number of compatibility groups on
the 'General' tab. For each group, enter the number of tasks in each
compatibility group and the name of each task in each compatibility
group.

'Heuristics' tab instructions:

Select the heuristic you want to use. Then enter the number of
minutes per hour that are productive, and the number of

Fixed-Order Quantity Inventory Model -- Help Screen

This program computes the economic order quantity (EOQ), total

annual inventory cost, expected number of orders per year, and
maximum inventory level.

'General' tab instructions:

First select the inventory model you want to use (I, II or III).
Then select whether you want the order point computed. If you want
to compute the order point, then enter the expected demand during
the lead time (EDDLT). If a percentage of EDDLT is to be used to get
order point, then enter the percentage (e.g., for 15% enter 15 and
not .15).

'Production' tab instructions (for Models I and II):

Enter the annual demand estimate, the ordering or setup cost, and
the carrying cost ($ per unit per year). For Model II, enter the
materials supply rate (p) and the materials usage rate (d) (use same
time units for p and d, such as units per day or units per month).

'Quantity' tab instructions (for Model III):

Enter annual demand estimate and ordering or setup cost. Select how
orders are delivered (all at once or gradually). For gradual
deliveries, enter the materials supply rate (p) and the materials
usage rate (d) (use same time units for p and d, such as units per
day or units per month). Enter the carrying cost rate as a
percentage of acquisition cost (e.g., for 15% enter 15 and not .15).
Enter the number of different quantity discount levels (i.e., the
number of different costs per unit).
ixed-Order Period Inventory Model -- Help Screen
This program computes the order period (years between orders), total
annual stocking cost, and quantity to order now.

Enter the annual demand estimate, the ordering or setup cost, the
expected demand during the lead time, the carrying cost, the maximum
inventory target, and the current number of units in inventory.
RP -- Help Screen

This program creates the MRP tables for an end item.

'Inventory Status' tab instructions:

The first step is to enter the number of periods in the planning

horizon and indicate whether the periods are days, weeks, or months.
Click the 'Update Grid' button so that the grid will reflect your
changes.
The second step is to click on the ‘New End Item’ button at the
bottom left and type the name of the end item. Then in the grid for
the end item, enter the lead time, quantity on hand, safety stock,
quantity allocated, gross requirement in each week, scheduled
receipts in each week, and service parts orders in each week. Also,
in the Lot Sizing Method box check whether Lot for Lot, Minimum Lot
Size, EOQ, or POQ is to be used for this part. If EOQ or POQ is
selected, input the ordering cost per order and the carrying cost
per unit per year.

It is most convenient to enter the inventory status information for

all parts in the problem first. At the bottom, click on ‘Add’ to
enter the inventory status information for the next part. Be sure
to select the lot sizing method for each part.

‘Product Structure’ tab instructions:

After the inventory status information for all parts has been
entered, click on the ‘Product Structure’ tab at the top to describe
the product structure tree. The left side of the ‘Product
Structure’ tab show a version of the product structure tree called
the indented parts list. The right side shows a list of all the
parts you entered in the ‘Inventory Status’ tab.
To add the first-level items below the end item, click on the end
item on the left side of the screen, then click on the next part on
the right side of the screen that is to be added as a first-level
item below the end item. Then click the add button the number of
times as there are units of this part below the end item. For
example, if end item A requires 3 units of part B, first click on
item A(1) on the left side of the screen, then click on part B on
the right side of the screen, then click the ‘Add’ button 3 times to
add 3 units of part B underneath parent item A. To add 2 units of
part E below part B (at level 2), click on B on the left side of the
screen, then click on E on the right side of the screen, then click
the ‘Add’ button 2 times.
After all inventory status information and product structure
information has been entered, click the solve button at the top of
the screen to obtain the completed MRP tables and planned order
release schedule.
aiting Lines -- Help Screen

This program solves waiting line or queuing problems.

First enter the values for the arrival rate (lambda) as arrivals per
time period, and the service rate (mu) as entities serviced per time
period. Then select the type of queuing model to use. For a single
channel with limited waiting line length, enter the maximum line
length allowed. For multi-channel, enter the number of channels.

Control Charts -- Help Screen

This program computes control limits for P, X-bar, and R control

charts. (3-sigma control limits)

First select either a P, X-Bar, or R control chart and enter the

sample size (the number of units in each random sample).

For P chart, enter the average or expected percent defectives in a

typical sample. (e.g., for P-bar of 15% enter 15 and not .15)

For X-bar chart, enter the value of X-bar-bar, the expected value of
X based on past samples. Also enter the value of R-bar.

For R chart, enter the value of R-bar, the expected value of R based
on past samples.

Acceptance Criteria -- Help Screen

This program computes acceptance limits for P (percent defective) or

X-bar (sample mean) acceptance plans. It will also test a sample
against the acceptance criteria.

First select either a P or X-Bar acceptance plan. Then select the

percent confidence interval for your plan.

For P acceptance plan, enter the average or expected percent

defective and the sample size.

For X-Bar acceptance plan, select whether you will be entering the
standard error of the sampling distribution or the universe standard
deviation. Then enter the sample size and value of X-Bar.
_
Critical Path Method -- Help Screen

This program finds the minimum project duration and critical path
for a project. For each activity, it finds the earliest start and
finish times, the latest start and finish times, and the slack.

Enter the number of activities in the project.

For each activity, enter the activity name, the time duration, and
the number of immediate precedent activities.

For each activity, enter the names of all immediate precedent

activities.
__
PERT -- Help Screen

This program finds the expected project duration and critical path
for a project. For each activity, it finds the earliest start and
finish times, the latest start and finish times, and the slack.

Enter the number of activities in the project. If desired, enter a

project completion time (customer required time) that you are
interested in knowing how many standard deviations it is away from
the expected project completion time.

For each activity, enter the activity name, the optimistic

(shortest) activity duration estimate, the most likely duration
estimate, the pessimistic (longest) duration estimate, and the
number of immediate precedent activities.

For each activity, enter the names of all immediate precedent

activities.