Martin Octavianus Astardi / M10501802

DETERMINATION OF THE NUMBER OF CASHIERS IN SUPERINDO

SUPERMARKET USING SIMULATION INDUSTRY TECHNIQUE
Astardi Martin Octavianus
Department of Industrial Engineering, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
martinastardi@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research was to solve a complex problem that cannot be solved analytically by using
simulation industry technique. Simulation industry technique can be used as a technique to solve
probabilistic and complex problem by create some mathematics model as a system that represent the
actual system. In this case, some alternatives have been made to determine how many cashiers should be
opened in Superindo Supermarket to reduce the number of people in line and time queuing in line so that
customers are not upset in the queue and it does not cause a loss of customers. There are 4 models
simulation and they classified into two classification, one initial model and three alternatives comparison
models. Simulation has been done using software Arena, and validation of all models has been
conducted using t hypothesis test. The result of simulation shows that the optimum result of this
simulation is the initial model with two cashiers with utility > 50%, . All comparison models have utility
under 50%, therefore all comparison models unselected as the optimum model for this case.
Keywords: simulation industry tecnique, simulation, utility, queu

INTRODUCTION
The human need for primary and secondary needs cannot be separated from retail bussiness.
Supermarkets tend to be more desirable than traditional market by most people because the supermarket
has a service factor that is much better than the traditional markets although the price offered in
supermarkets is more expensive than the traditional market. Superindo is one of the middle-class
supermarket which has many retail almost throughout Indonesia, including Yogyakarta, one of the most
favorite Superindo is located on the road of Seturan. Superindo has 8 cashier queue to serve customers,
but there are only less than 4 cashiers are ready to serve customers every day. In Superindo, customers
queue at the cashier often happens almost every server that make customers wait a long time to pay for
groceries.
This study aims to find the optimum solution of the problem of queues at Superindo which has a
probabilistic parameters that are hard to solve analytically. The purpose in Superindo simulation study is
to determine How many server should be opened to reduce the number of people in line and time queuing
in line so that customers are not upset in the queue and it does not cause a loss of customers.

METHODOLOGY
This research was conducted by the method of observation and simulation so that the results obtained can
describe the characteristics of the actual system that has a level of precision and high accuracy. Figure 1
showing the stages of research undertaken.
 Martin Octavianus Astardi / M10501802

Figure 1. Flowchart of Research Stage

The business processes in queue system of Superindo Cashiers upon execution can be seen in Figure 2.
The observations were made by taking the primary data in the form of consumer interarrival time at the
cashier, service time of two server at Superindo. In addition, the observation was also made to survey the
state of the real system.
After checking the distribution patterns of the data, we create a simulation program at the ARENA
program. In this model, it will be shown how to simulate part of a queuing system with development of
mathematical model that will describe the actual system. This model will be used to estimate the effects
of various actions (Render, 2005: 474).
The simulation model is based on the business processes performed of cashier queue system at Superindo.
The author makes some simulation model consisting of the initial model and the comparison model. The
initial model is a model that describes the initial conditions in the cashier queue system at Superindo,
while the comparison models are queuing system models of cashier queue system at Superindo with the
addition or reduction of the number of cashiers. There is one initial model and three comparison models
that the author made, the initial model is two server models and the comparison models are one server
model, three server model, and four server model. The simulation run with one month simulation time,
divided into two parts, that are the beginning of the month and the end of the month, due to the
interarrival of customer arrival has different distribution between the beginning and the end of the month
caused by different arrival volume. Number of replication is said to be enough when it meets half width <
0.09. From the calculation of the number of replication, the number of replication minimum to do the
simulation at the beginning of the month and the end of the month was 3 replication. Verification of the
models was done by using Arena and Validation of the models was done by using t-test hypothesis testing.

RESULTS
After the simulation is done in accordance with the model that has been created, then the result as in the
Table 1.
 Martin Octavianus Astardi / M10501802

Tabel 1. Results of Simulation

Simulation with Comparison (1 Server) cannot be done at the beginning of the month due to the
distribution of resulting entity beyond the limits Arena in generating entity, so that the Comparison (1
Server) is not feasible as an alternative solution. Waiting time, number of waiting and utility of the
Superindo queuing system directly proportional to the number of servers that are opened. The more
servers that are opened , the less waiting time, number of waiting and utility that are obtained. Good
utility is the highest utility, while good waiting time and the number of waiting are the smallest. Although
there are 8 servers are available, we just do the simulation to 4 server because when we simulate with 4
server, the utility gained become small ranged 20%, which indicates that the workers (cashiers) have a
lot of idling time than working time, so the simulation for 5 -8 server does not need to be done because it
will give smaller utilities.

DISCUSSION
Data collected by observation method is an effective way because with observation, the user can know the
reality of the actual system. Simulation is the best method to solve the problem which cannot be solved in
analytical way. To do the simulation, we must make some mathematical model which express the actual
system. The result of the simulation cannot represent 100% accurately and precisely, but we can make
hypothesis analysis to make a decision. There is a lot of methods and stages to do a simulation, it depends
on the author situation what methods and how many stages required to do a simulation. Verification and
Validation of the models of simulation should be conducted to make sure that the models created to do a
simulation are similar and represent the actual system. In this simulation, the authors use some help as
assumptions in this analysis. The assumptions researcher used due to lack of information that impossible
to obtain such as employee payroll system, capital of procurement, etc. The less assumptions you use, the
complexer models you must make.

CONCLUSION
After conducting an analysis using a lot of simulation models and hypotheses. The Author conclude that
the initial model is the best model and has been appropriately applied in Superindo because the initial
model provide the biggest utility of all models (utilities > 50%). In addition, the mean and maximum
waiting time are obtained and the number of waiting just to have a little difference with the other models,
so it will not affect significantly the queuing system. Based on the results of the hypothesis, the authors
also conclude that the mean of waiting time and the mean of number of waiting at the beginning and at
the end of the month significantly different. Decisions taken also considered in terms of costs that may be
covered more by Superindo if Superindo open more than 2 servers with benefits that are not much
different than open 2 server. Wastage costs that may arise is cost of labor, cost of investment in
 Martin Octavianus Astardi / M10501802

machinery, electricity, etc. However, in accordance with the limitation issue in this case, we did not get
the costs associated with this queue system. Thus, we do not provide financial considerations.