Excel data sheet in Access

[Imdabaum]

I have an Access database that uses an Excel spreadsheet as one of it's data tables. The access database runs some procedures and exports the calculated data into a new spreadsheet for each individual user. However every once in a while the procedure forces the Excel document open that acts as the master datatable. The document is write protected so there isn't a risk of users manipulating it, but it locks management out when it opens and then everyone has to shut down their machines because we don't know who actually had it open.

Any help?