Introduction to Discrete Event Simulation
Discrete Event Simulation is a method for simulating events that occur discretely. First, let’s review some key concepts.
Simulation: Refers to mimicking the behavior of a system over time. When you simulate a system, you imitate its behavior, and since the system’s behavior changes over time, your simulation must also be in units of time.
Event: Any change in the system’s state is referred to as an event. For example, in a bank, a customer entering the system is an event. In a gas station, a car entering the station, completing the process of pumping gas are events in the system.
Discrete: This term means that events and occurrences happen in discrete intervals of time. (For further understanding of discrete and continuous systems, click here).
If you’re interested in delving deeper into Discrete Event Simulation or discrete systems in general, it is recommended to explore the book by Mr. Jerry Banks.
Applications of Discrete Event Simulation
Discrete Event Simulation covers a wide range of problems and offers an effective solution for various scenarios. The following are examples of problems that can be easily addressed and optimized using Discrete Event Simulation:
- Simulation of production and assembly systems.
- Simulation of service systems such as banks, gas stations, car washes, etc.
- Maintenance and repair issues.
- Inventory control problems.
- Simulation of supply chains.
- Many other domains.
Application of Simulation in Production Systems
One of the applications of Discrete Event Simulation is in production systems. Using this tool enables managers and engineers to gain a comprehensive understanding of their systems and evaluate the impact of a minor change on the entire system.
For instance, consider making a change at a station in a production line, which results in changes in the performance of that station. Predicting these changes may be challenging because the system under examination is very small, and its interaction with other components hasn’t been considered. Answering the question of how these changes in the station affect the overall performance of the production line and other workstations is difficult without the use of simulation tools.
Using simulation in systems similar to production lines allows the assessment of the effects of changes on one station on the entire system and other workstations in the production line. Other advantages of using Discrete Event Simulation in manufacturing facilities include:
- Increased production output per unit of time.
- Reduced production time.
- Lower inventory levels during the production process.
- Improved efficiency of human and machine resources, effectively utilizing resources.
- Increased number of products delivered without delays.
- Reduced capital and production costs.
- Ensuring the system’s performance meets expectations.
- Providing essential information for building simulation models in various other cases.
Utilizing Simulation from Design Phase to Current State Optimization
Using Discrete Event Simulation models for systems in the design phase allows system designers to pay special attention to aspects they may have overlooked before. For example, there might be an existing problem in the system that designers hadn’t considered, or the effects of parameters in the system could lead to unanticipated issues that haven’t been taken into account.
Building Discrete Event Simulation Models with AnyLogic
You will be able to easily develop your own discrete event simulation model in the AnyLogic simulation software. Additionally, the capability to integrate models created using the discrete event approach with other simulation approaches will be available in the AnyLogic software environment. To learn how to build a discrete event simulation model in the AnyLogic software, please refer to the our AnyLogic Training Program.
