Simulation Modeling Handbook: A Practical Approach

The use of simulation modeling and analysis is becoming increasingly more popular as a technique for improving or investigating process performance. This book is a practical, easy-to-follow reference that offers up-to-date information and step-by-step procedures for conducting simulation studies. It provides sample simulation project support material, including checklists, data-collection forms, and sample simulation project reports and publications to facilitate practitioners' efforts in conducting simulation modeling and analysis projects. Simulation Modeling Handbook: A Practical Approach has two major advantages over other treatments. First, it is independent of any particular simulation software, allowing readers to use any commercial package or programming language. Second, it was written to insulate practitioners from unnecessary simulation theory that does not focus on their average, practical needs. As the popularity of simulation studies continues to grow, the planning and execution of these projects, more and more engineering and management professionals will be called upon to perform these tasks. With its simple, no-nonsense approach and focus on application rather than theory, this comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide is the ideal vehicle for acquiring the background and skills needed to undertake effective simulation projects. Features Presents step-by-step procedures for conducting successful simulation modeling and analysis Addresses every phase of performing simulations, from formulating the problem to presenting study results and recommendations Uses approaches applicable regardless of the specific simulation or software used Includes a summary of the major simulation software packages and discusses the pros and cons of using general purpose programming languages

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION Simulation Modeling and Analysis Other Types of Simulation Models Purposes of Simulation Advantages to Simulation Disadvantages to Simulation Other Considerations Famous Simulation Quotes Basic Simulation Concepts Additional Basic Simulation Issues Summary PROBLEM FORMULATION Formal Problem Statement Orientation Project Objectives Summary PROJECT PLANNING Project Management Concepts Simulation Project Manager Functions Developing the Simulation Project Plan Compressing Projects Example Gantt Chart Advanced Project Management Concepts Project Management Software Packages Summary SYSTEM DEFINITION System Classifications High-Level Flow Chart Basics Components and Events to Model Data to Be Included in the Model Output Data Summary INPUT DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Sources for Input Data Collecting Input Data Deterministic versus Probabilistic Data Discrete versus Continuous Data Common Input Data Distributions Less Common Distributions Offset Combination Distributions Analyzing Input Data How Much Data Needs to Be Collected What Happens if I Cannot Fit the Input Data? Software Implementations for Data Fitting Summary MODEL TRANSLATION Simulation Program Selection Model Translation Section Content Program Organization Summary VERIFICATION Divide-and-Conquer Approach Animation Advancing the Simulation Clock by Event by Event Writing to an Output File Summary VALIDATION Assumptions Simplifications Oversights Limitations Need for Validation Two Types of Validation Face Validity Statistical Validity Validation Data Analysis Process When a Model Cannot Be Statistically Validated and What to Do About It Summary EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Factors and Levels Two Alternative Experimental Designs One-Factor Experimental Designs Two-Factor Experimental Designs Multifactor Experimental Designs 2^k Experimental Designs Experimental Alternative Factor Interactions Refining the Experimental Alternatives Summary ANALYSIS Terminating System Analysis Non-Terminating System Analysis Summary PROJECT REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS Written Report Guidelines Executive Summary Equations Importing Screen Captures Presentation Guidelines Presentation Media Electronic Presentation Software Issues Actual Presentation Summary TRAINING SIMULATORS Problem Formulation Project Planning System Definition Input Data Collection Model Translation Verification Validation Implementation Summary EXAMPLES ARENA USER'S MINIMANUAL SIMULATION USING AUTOMOD AND AUTOSTAT SIMPAK USER'S MINIMANUAL APPENDIXES