What is Simulation?

 Imitation
 An attempt to duplicate the
features, appearance, and
characteristics of a real system
1. To imitate a real-world situation
mathematically
2. To study its properties and operating
characteristics
3. To draw conclusions and make action
decisions based on the results of the
simulation
Simulation-New Definition
• A simulation is a computer-based
model used to run experiments on a
real system
– Typically done on a computer
– Determines reactions to different operating
rules or change in structure
– A given system is copied and the variables
and constants associated with it are
manipulated in that artificial environment to
examine the behaviour of the system
 Simulation Example
• Aerodynamic Simulation-
– to study aerodynamic properties of
aeroplane
• Driving Simulation-
– To have the feeling of vehicle driving
• Computer Program Simulation-
– for layout, financial and market analysis
model
Computer Analysis
 Simulation Applications
Ambulance location and dispatching
Assembly-line balancing
Parking lot and harbor design
Distribution system design
Scheduling aircraft
Labor-hiring decisions
Personnel scheduling
Traffic-light timing
Voting pattern prediction
Bus scheduling
Design of library operations
Taxi, truck, and railroad dispatching
Production facility scheduling
Plant layout
Capital investments
Production scheduling
Sales forecasting
Inventory planning and control
Table F.1
 Other Simulation Egs.
• Simulation in education and training
– war games
– animated narrative vignettes (ANV). ANVs are cartoon-
like video narratives of hypothetical and reality-based
stories involving classroom teaching and learning.
ANVs have been used to assess knowledge, problem
solving skills and dispositions of children, and pre-
service and in-service teachers.
– case study
• Truck Simulator
• Healthcare (Clinical) Simulators
• Interactive models
 Other Simulation Egs.
• Computer simulators
• The "classroom simulators"
• Financial Planning and Analysis
• City Simulators / Urban Simulation
• Flight simulators
• Marine simulators
• Engineering (Technology) simulation or
Process simulation
 Define problem

The
Process of Introduce variables

Simulation Construct model

Specify values
of variables

Conduct simulation

Examine results

Select best course

Figure F.1
Advantages of Simulation
1. Relatively straightforward and flexible
2. Can be used to analyze large and
complex real-world situations that
cannot be solved by conventional
models
3. Real-world complications can be
included that most OM models cannot
permit
4. “Time compression” is possible
- Years of experience in the real system can
be compressed into seconds or minutes
Advantages of Simulation
1. Allows “what-if” types of questions
2. Does not interfere with real-world
systems
3. Can study the interactive effects of
individual components or variables in
order to determine which ones are
important
 Advantages of Simulation
• Often leads to a better understanding
of the real system
• Simulation is far more general than
mathematical models
• Simulation can be used as a game for
training experience
• Simulation provides a more realistic
replication of a system than
mathematical analysis
• Many standard packaged models,
covering a wide range of topics, are
available commercially
Disadvantages of Simulation
1. Can be very expensive and may take months
to develop
2. It is a trial-and-error approach that may
produce different solutions in repeated runs
- Simulation may be less accurate than
mathematical analysis because it is randomly
based
• Managers must generate all of the conditions
and constraints for solutions they want to
examine
• Each simulation model is unique
 Disadvantages of Simulation ..
• There is no guarantee that the model will, in fact,
provide good answers
• There is no way to prove reliability

• A significant amount of computer time may be needed

to run complex models
• The technique of simulation still lacks a standardized
approach
 Inventory Simulation
Daily demand for Ace Drill
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Demand for Cumulative Interval of
Ace Drill Frequency Probability Probability Random Numbers
0 15 .05 .05 01 through 05
1 30 .10 .15 06 through 15
2 60 .20 .35 16 through 35
3 120 .40 .75 36 through 75
4 45 .15 .90 76 through 90
5 30 .10 1.00 91 through 00
300 1.00

Table F.8
 Simulation Example 1
Day Random Simulated
Number Number Daily Demand
1 52 5 3
Expected
2 =37 ∑ 3
(probability of i units) x
3demand 82i =1 4
(demand of i units)
4 69 4
5 =98 (.05)(0) + 5(.10)(1) + (.20)(2)
6 96 + (.30)(3)5+ (.20)(4) +
7 33 (.15)(5) 2
8 50 3
= 0 + .1 + .4 + .9 + .8 + .75
9 88 5
10 =90 2.95 tires5
39 Total
3.9 Average
Using Software in Simulation
 Computers are critical in simulating
complex tasks
 General-purpose languages - BASIC, C++
 Special-purpose simulation languages -
GPSS, SIMSCRIPT
1. Require less programming time for large
simulations
2. Usually more efficient and easier to check
for errors
3. Random-number generators are built in
Using Software in Simulation
 Commercial simulation programs are
available for many applications - Extend,
Modsim, Witness, MAP/1, Enterprise
Dynamics, Simfactory, ProModel, Micro
Saint, ARENA
 Spreadsheets such as Excel can be used
to develop some simulations
Using Software in Simulation