The creation and use of a simulation model follow a structured, multi-step process from problem definition to the application of results.

Model Development Steps

1. Identify Problem: Define the problem with the existing system or establish the requirements for a proposed system.
2. Design Problem: Formulate the design, considering existing system factors and limitations.
3. Collect Data: Gather and process system data, observing its performance.
4. Develop & Verify Model: Build the model using tools like network diagrams and verify it using various techniques.
5. Validate Model: Compare the model’s performance against the real system under various conditions to ensure its accuracy.
6. Document Model: Create comprehensive documentation detailing objectives, assumptions, input variables, and performance for future use.
7. Select Experimental Design: Choose an appropriate experimental design based on requirements.
8. Induce Conditions & Observe: Apply experimental conditions to the model and observe the resulting outcomes.

Simulation Analysis Steps

1. Prepare Problem Statement: Clearly articulate the problem to be analyzed.
2. Choose Input Variables: Define and create entities, distinguishing between decision variables (controlled by the programmer) and uncontrollable variables (random variables).
3. Create Constraints: Assign constraints to the decision variables within the simulation.
4. Determine Output Variables: Identify the key performance metrics and outputs to be measured.
5. Collect Data: Gather data from the real-life system to use as input for the simulation.
6. Develop Flowchart: Create a flowchart to visualize the progress of the simulation process.
7. Choose Software: Select an appropriate simulation software to run the model.
8. Verify Model: Compare the simulation model’s results with the real-time system to ensure accuracy.
9. Perform Experiment: Run experiments on the model by altering variable values to identify the best solution.
10. Apply Results: Implement the findings and solutions from the simulation into the real-time system.