Computer simulation in manufacturing systems analysis

Abstract

Computer simulation can be considered as an experimental approach for studying certain functional properties of an organization by experimenting with an appropriate computer model rather than with the real system itself. It is basically an experimental methodology using the power of a computer to process and analyse the large amount of data involved in a problem which otherwise would be extremely difficult to handle (see, for example, Shannon, 1975; Zeigler, 1976; Poole and Szymankiewicz, 1977; Pritsker, 1979; Pritsker and Pegden, 1979; Law and Kelton 1982; Ellison and Wilson, 1984; Gottfried, 1984; Pitt, 1984; Carrie, 1988). It provides an efficient and economical — and sometimes even the only possible — way to analyse a system. Compared with direct real experimentation, the computer simulation approach has the advantages of lower cost, shorter time, greater flexibility and much smaller risk. As a result, this methodology has been extensively used in the area of manufacturing systems studies by both academic researchers and practical engineers.