Steps In Simulation

Study

NALIN
ADHIKARY

nalin.com.np

Steps :
1. Problem Formulation
2. Setting of Objectives and Overall Project Plan
3. Model Conceptualization
4. Data Collection
5. Model Translation
6. Verification
7. Validation
8. Experimental Design
9. Production Run and Analysis
10.Documentation and Report
11.Implementation

Flow Chart Representation

Yes

Experimental
Design

Setting of
Objectives and
Overall Project
Plan
Model
Conceptualizat
ion

More
Runs
?

Production
Run &
Analysis

Problem
Formulati
on

Yes

Yes
No

Data
Collection

Model
Translation

Valida
ted?
Yes

Verified?
No

No

Documentati
on &
Reporting

No

Implementati
on

Problem Formulation
the problem is clearly
understood by the simulation
analyst
the formulation is clearly
understood by the client

Problem
Formulati
on
Setting of
Objectives and
Overall Project
Plan
Model
Conceptualizat
ion

Data
Collection

Model
Translation

Setting of Objectives and Overall

Project Plan
Problem
determine the questions that are to
be answered
identify scenarios to be investigated
decision criteria
determine the end-user
determine data requirements
determine hardware, software, &
personnel requirements
prepare a time plan
cost plan and billing procedure

Formulati
on
Setting of
Objectives and
Overall Project
Plan
Model
Conceptualizat
ion

Data
Collection

Model
Translation

Model Conceptualization
World
abstract Real
essential
features
System

o events, Assumed
activities, entities,
System
attributes,
resources, variables, and
their relationships
o performance measures
o data requirements
Conceptual
System

select correct level of details

(assumptions)
Logical
Model

Problem
Formulati
on
Setting of
Objectives and
Overall Project
Plan
Model
Conceptualizat
ion

Data
Collection

Model
Translation

Data Collection
collect data for input analysis
and validation
o arrival rate, arrival process, service
discipline, service rate , etc.

analysis of the data

o determine the random variables
o fit distribution functions

Problem
Formulati
on
Setting of
Objectives and
Overall Project
Plan
Model
Conceptualizat
ion

Data
Collection

Model
Translation

Model Translation
Problem
Formulati
on

Codin
g

Setting of
Objectives and
Overall Project
Plan

General Purpose
Language
(JAVA, C++, VB)

Special Purpose
Simulation
Language/
Software
(SIMEN, ARENA,
EXTEND)

Model
Conceptualizat
ion

Data
Collection

Model
Translation

Verification
the process of determining if the
operational logic is correct

Model
Translation
No

o debugging the simulation software

Verified?

Yes
Model
Conceptualization
No

Validate
d?
Yes

Data Collection
No

Validation
the process of determining if the
model accurately represents the
system
o comparison of model results with
collected data from the real system

Model
Translation
No

Verified?

Yes
Model
Conceptualization
No

Validate
d?
Yes

Data Collection
No

Experimental Design
alternative scenarios to be
simulated
type of output data analysis
Model
(steady-state vs. terminating
Conceptualization
simulation analysis)
No
number of simulation runs
length of each run
variance reduction

Yes

Validate
d?

Data Collection
No

Yes

Experimental
Design
Production
Run &
Analysis

More Runs?
Yes

Production Run & Analysis

statistical tests for
significance and ranking

Model
Conceptualization
No

o Point Estimation
o Confidence-Interval
Estimation

Yes

Validate
d?

Data Collection
No

Yes

Experimental
Design

interpretation of results
Yes

Production
Run &
Analysis
Yes

More
Runs
More
?

Runs?

No

Documentation & Report

program documentation
o allows future modifications
o creates confidence

progress reports
o frequent reports (e.g. monthly)
are suggested
o alternative scenarios
o performance measures or criteria
used
o results of experiments
o recommendations

No

More Runs?

Documentati
on &
Reporting
Implementati
on

Implementation
Implement the study in real
system

No

Success ?
??

OR

Failure ???

More Runs?

Documentati
on &
Reporting
Implementati
on

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
3. Managers must generate all of the
conditions and constraints for
solutions they want to examine
4. Each simulation model is unique

References
www.engr.sjsu.edu
www.ewp.rpi.edu/hartford

Thank

you
!