These are the "knobs" the researcher turns to see how the system reacts (e.g., adding a second cashier). 4. Events and Logic
Time is the dimension that brings a simulation to life. The tracks the passage of time, which can be accelerated (modeling years of climate change in seconds) or slowed down (analyzing a high-speed engine failure) depending on the goal of the study. Conclusion Elements of Simulation
Simulations are driven by , which are occurrences that change the state of the system. In a "Discrete Event Simulation," the clock jumps from one event to the next (e.g., a customer arriving or leaving). The logic or rules of the simulation dictate exactly what happens when an event occurs, ensuring the model follows "real-world" physics or operational procedures. 5. Resources and Constraints These are the "knobs" the researcher turns to
The first step in any simulation is defining the —the specific part of the real world being studied. Establishing boundaries is critical; you must decide what is internal to the model and what external factors (the environment) will influence it. For example, in a flight simulator, the aircraft is the system, while wind and air pressure are environmental inputs. 2. Entities and Attributes The tracks the passage of time, which can
are the components that provide service to entities. Because resources are usually limited, they create constraints . The interaction between entities demanding service and the limited capacity of resources is what typically creates bottlenecks, making this element essential for problem-solving. 6. Stochastic (Random) Components
Most real-world systems aren't perfectly predictable. To be accurate, simulations incorporate using probability distributions. Instead of saying a customer arrives every 5 minutes, a simulation might use a distribution where arrivals vary between 2 and 8 minutes, mirroring the messy reality of human behavior or mechanical failure. 7. The Clock (Time Handling)