Simulate the system in Problem 10. Make any assumptions about the warm-up time and runtime you believe are appropriate. Try solving the problem with exponentially distributed copying times. Then try...

Simulate the system in Problem 10. Make any assumptions about the warm-up time and runtime you believe are appropriate. Try solving the problem with exponentially distributed copying times. Then try it with gamma-distributed copying times, where the standard deviation is 3.2 minutes. Do you get the same recommendation on which machine to purchase?

Problem 10

The Decision Sciences Department is trying to determine whether to rent a slow or a fast copier. The department believes that an employee’s time is worth $15 per hour. The slow copier rents for $4 per hour, and it takes an employee an average of 10 minutes to complete copying.


The fast copier rents for $15 per hour, and it takes an employee an average of 6 minutes to complete copying. On average, four employees per hour need to use the copying machine. (Assume the copying times and interarrival times to the copying machine are exponentially distributed.) Which machine should the department rent to minimize expected total cost per hour?