Charles R. Harrell

Integrating optimization and simulation: research and practice

The integration of optimization and simulation has become nearly ubiquitous in practice, as most discrete-event simulation packages now include some type of optimization routine. This panel sessions objective was to explore the present state of the art in simulation optimization, prevailing issues for researchers, and future prospects for the field. The composition of the panel included views from both simulation software developers and academic researchers. This Proceedings paper begins with a brief overview of some issues, introduced by the chairman and organizer of the session, followed by the position statements of the panel members, which served as a starting point for the panel discussion.

Simulation modeling using PROMODEL technology

PROMODELs simulation modeling products are powerful yet easy-to-use simulation tools for modeling all types of systems and processes. ProModel is designed to model manufacturing systems ranging from small job shops and machining cells to large mass production, flexible manufacturing systems, and supply chain systems. Other simulation products available from PROMODEL Corporation include MedModel/spl reg/, ServiceModel/spl reg/, and our latest release, ProModel PI (for process improvement). These products are Windows based applications with intuitive graphical interfaces and object-oriented modeling constructs, eliminating the need for programming. They combine the flexibility of a general-purpose simulation language with the convenience of data-driven simulators. This paper provides an overview of ProModel and its modeling, analysis, and optimization capabilities.

Healthcare simulation modeling and optimization using MedModel

MedModel is a simulation tool that allows healthcare engineers, managers and clinicians to quickly examine very complex operational and planning issues. Unlike static tools, such as spreadsheets, MedModel makes it easy to replicate the complex interactions within and between departments. These interactions quickly create problems that are simply too complex for traditional tools to answer properly. MedModel has a wealth of specific functions to accurately duplicate actual health system behavior. This paper is an examination of how capable this tool is in answering complex healthcare planning questions.

Simulation software component architecture for simulation-based enterprise applications

This paper examines trends and technologies leading towards simulation-based enterprise applications. Component, Internet and distributed technologies are presented as enablers of simulation-based enterprise applications. Examples are given of typical applications that can take advantage of distributed simulation components. The goal of this paper is to present a high level component architecture that will work in current enterprise information technology (IT) environments.

The current and future status of simulation software (panel)

In this panel, principal members of seven leading simulation-software companies discuss two important questions concerning the current and future status of simulation software.

Productivity improvement in appliance manufacturing

Simulation can be a useful tool when analyzing complex manufacturing systems to help sort through cause-and- effect relationships and gain a better understanding of what is actually causing a particular problem in the system. Once cause-and-effect relationships are identified, changes for improvement can be made more intelligently and then verified using simulation. This paper describes an application in which simulation was used to identify the bottleneck of a dishwasher tub manufacturing line. Engineers were then able to determine and verify a solution to the bottleneck which resulted in an annual cost savings of

Introduction to ProcessModel and ProcessModel 9000

275,000.

Mitigating the "Hawthorne effect" in simulation studies

The paper presents an introduction to ProcessModel simulation software. ProcessModel is a discrete event simulation tool that combines the power of simulation with the simplicity of flowcharting to aid managers and business analysts who are looking for ways to quantify the effects of variability, uncertainty and resource interdependencies on the performance of complex business processes. ProcessModel 9000 is a variation of ProcessModel that allows quality managers to easily document, analyze and improve the quality processes which are typically reviewed during the ISO 9000 or QS-9000 certification process. ProcessModel 9000 includes ProcessModel software and more than 35 pre-defined flowcharts of the most common ISO/QS-9000 processes. Both ProcessModel and ProcessModel 9000 aid in the creation of graphical business process models for the purpose of predicting key process performance measures such as cost, throughput, cycle time and resource utilization.

MedModel/ServiceModel tutorial

Though little research has been published on the influence of the Hawthorne effect in simulation studies, it is an inescapable phenomenon that can have a dramatic impact on both data gathering and model validation. This paper examines the potential impact of the Hawthorne effect on simulation studies and presents several case studies where it has occurred and been successfully managed. Techniques for detecting and dealing with this psychological phenomenon are presented.

Increasing throughput in an automated packaging line with irreducible complexity

As new additions to the PROMODEL family of simulation products, both MedModel and ServiceModel represent substantial forward movement in the evolution of simulation sotlware. Microcomputerbased, fairly simple to use and tailored to meet the analytical demands of specific environments, both products provide a basis for the comprehensive evaluation of large, complex problems representative of service systems in general. This tutorial serves as a cursory examination of each product’s characteristics and capabilities.