A Guide to Computer‐based Simulation

Provides an introduction to simulation, and discusses the use of a modern simulation environment. Examples of the uses of simulation are queuing, scheduling and stock control. Simulation environments are now far more user‐friendly, and software is more competitively priced, than ever before. The manager can play a major role in model‐building by using icon‐driven simulation tools, which enable a system to be “drawn” on the screen, and which help to reduce the gap between manager and modeller. The gap is even further reduced if the manager understands something of simulation terminology and methods. Simulation is a tool which can aid managers in policy making and decision making.