Simulation

How it is used

Industrial engineers mostly use discrete-event simulation in tools such as Arena, FlexSim or Simio. They build a simulation model, run scenarios and compare results like throughput and waiting time. It is useful when variation makes simple calculations unreliable.

Example sentences

1. The simulation shows that a second loading dock would cut truck waiting time by 40%.

2. Before we spend money on the new layout, let's test it in a simulation.

Common collocations

• simulation model
• discrete-event simulation
• run a simulation
• simulation results

Related terms

• queueing theoryThe mathematical study of waiting lines: how arrivals, service times and the number of servers affect queue length and waiting time.
• optimizationFinding the best possible solution among many options within given limits, for example the cheapest route, the shortest schedule or the best use of machines.
• plant layoutThe arrangement of machines, workstations, storage areas and aisles inside a factory, planned to keep material flow short, safe and simple.
• linear programmingA mathematical method for finding the best result, such as the lowest cost or highest profit, when the goal and all the limits can be written as linear equations.

More terms: Operations Research

• objective function
• constraint