Industrial Engineering Department

Systems Modelling and Simulation

(Course Code Ieng3130)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teaching Material, 5rd yr., Semester I

Prepared by: Alebachew Mengistu

BiT, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
2016 E.C
 Chapter One

System and System Modeling

2
 What is a SYSTEM?

• The term system is driven from the Greek word

systema, which means an organized relationship
among functioning units, components or elements.

• We come into daily contact with the hospitality,

transportation, the telephone, the accounting, the
production, and for two decades the computer system.

• There are more than a hundred definitions of the word system, but most seem to
have a system is an orderly grouping of interdependent components linked
together according to a plan to achieve a specific objective.
 …System

• The study of the systems concepts has three basic implications:

1. A system must be designed to achieve a predetermined objective

2. Interrelationships and interdependence must exist among the components
3. The objectives of the organization as a whole have a higher priority than the
objectives of its subsystems.
 What is a Model ?
• Simplified Representation of a Real or Theoretical System at some particular point
of time and space intended to provide the understanding of the system.
• Whether a model is good or not depends on the
extent to which it provides understanding.

What Level of Model Detail ? All the models are simplification of reality.
Exact copy of a reality can only be the reality
itself.
There is always a trade off as to what level of detail
is included in the model:
 Too little detail: risk of missing relevant
interactions.
 Too much detail: Overly complicated to
understand
 Different Approaches of System Modeling
• Models can be put under three basic categories called physical models,
mathematical models and computer models. We will discuss those models as shown
in Fig.

6
 1. Physical Modeling
• Physical models are of two types, static and dynamic. Static physical model is a scaled
down model of a system which does not change with time. Example: an architect
before constructing a building makes a scaled down model of the building.

• Dynamic physical models change with time or which are function of time. Example: in
wind tunnel, small aircraft models (static models) are kept and air is blown over them
with different velocities.

2. MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• Most of the systems can in general be transformed into mathematical equations.
These equations are called the mathematical model of that system. If mathematical
model does not involve time(system does not change with time) it is called a static
mathematical model of the system.
7
 For example, a company wants to optimize the cost of its product by balancing the supply and
demand actually this is astatic model, but this static model will be made dynamic by involving time
factor in it.

3. COMPUTER MODELS
• With the advent of computers, modeling and simulation concepts have totally been changed. Now
all types of stochastic as well as continuous mathematical models can be numerically evaluated
with the help of numerical methods using computers. Solution of the problem with these
techniques is called computer modeling. Object-oriented and Role-oriented are the two good
examples.
• Here one question arises about the difference between mathematically obtained solution and
simulation. Literal meaning of simulation is to simulate or copy the behavior of a system or
phenomenon under study.
8
 Simulation in fact is a computer model, which may involve mathematical
computation, computer graphics and even discrete modeling. But Computer oriented
models which we are going to discuss here are different from this.
 One can design a computer model, with the help of graphics as well as mathematics,
which simulates the actual scenario of war gaming.

What do you think about traditional modeling? Reading Assignment

9
 Simulation Modeling
What is a Simulation ?
• It is an experiment in a computer where the real system is replaced by the execution of
the program.
• A Simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over
time. It can be done by hand or on a computer.
• The behavior of a system as it evolves over time is studied by developing a
simulation model.
• This model takes set of assumptions concerning the operation of the system.
• The assumptions are expressed in
 Mathematical relationships
 Logical relationships
 Symbolic relationships between the entities of the system.
 Modelling and Simulation
• Discipline of understanding and evaluating the interaction of parts of a real or
theoretical system by:
 Designing its actual representation (model)
 Executing (running) the model including the time and space
dimension (simulation)

• Herewith, simulation modeling is the process of executing well-designed object under time frame and
available space using either computer or hand.
 Analytical Queuing and Empirical Simulation models
• A simulation model is implemented in a computer program. It is generally a
relatively inexpensive modeling approach, commonly used as an alternative to
analytical modeling.
• The tradeoff between analytical and simulation modeling lies in the nature of their
“solutions,” the computation of their performance measures as follows:

1. An analytical model calls for the solution of a mathematical problem, and the
derivation of mathematical formulas, or more generally, algorithmic procedures.
2. A simulation model calls for running (executing) a simulation program to produce
sample histories.

12
13
 Case: Manufacturing Modeling
Computer Manufacturing Model

• The computer manufacturing model differs from the automobile model with regards to
detail, layout, and input data. Less detailed than the automobile manufacturing model
in terms of specifying individual operations in the assembly stage, the computer
manufacturing model simulates five main stages in assembling and testing computers.
These processes are:

1. Assembly
2. Electrical testing
3. Software loading
4. Final testing and inspection
5. Packaging

14
• Rather than having a single flow line as in the automobile model, the layout of the
computer model consists of two repetitive parallel lines, each line consisting of the
five main stages as shown in the following figure:

Parallel Lines in Computer Manufacturing Model

15
• A complete product is manufactured at each cell, which uses equipment for each
stage of the production process. a typical manufacturing plant consists of four main
components:
 Receiving
 Production Processing
 Packaging, and
 Shipping

• These components are incorporated in the computer manufacturing model in the

following manner:

16
• The picture will be discussed in the late portion

17
 Why Simulation?
• Accurate Depiction of Reality

 Parts of the system may not be observable (e.g. internals of a silicon chip or
biological system).
 When new components are introduced into a system, simulation can be used to
help foresee bottlenecks and other problems that may arise in the operation of
the system.
 Simulation can be used as a pedagogical device for teaching both students and
practitioners basic skills in theoretical analysis, statistical analysis, and
decision-making.
• Insightful System Evaluations
 It may be too difficult, hazardous, or expensive to observe a real, operational
system
18
 When to use Simulation
 Over the years tremendous developments have taken place in computing
capabilities and in special purpose simulation languages, and in
simulation methodologies.
 The use of simulation techniques has also become widespread.

Following are some of the purposes for which simulation may be used.

Simulation is very useful for Simulation can be employed Simulation is very useful
experiments with the internal to experiment with new in determining the
interactions of a complex system, or of designs and policies, before influence of changes in
a subsystem within a complex system implementing input variables on the
output of the system.

Simulation helps in suggesting Simulation can be used to verify the results

modifications in the system under
investigation for its optimal obtained by analytical methods and reinforce the
performance. analytical techniques.
 When Simulation is Not Appropriate

 Simulation should not be used when the problem can be solved using common
sense.
 Not, if the problem can be solved analytically.
 Not, if it is easier to perform direct experiments.
 Not, if the resources or time are not available.
 No data is available, not even estimate simulation is not advised.
 If system behavior is too complex or cannot be defined, simulation is not
appropriate.
 Advantages of Simulation

• New policies, operating procedures, decision rules, information flow, etc can be
explored without disrupting the ongoing operations of the real system.
• New hardware designs, physical layouts, transportation systems can be tested
without committing resources for their acquisition.
• Hypotheses about how or why certain phenomena occur can be tested for feasibility.
• Bottleneck analysis can be performed indication where work-in process.
• “What-if" questions can be answered.
 Disadvantages of Simulation

• Model building requires special training.

• Simulation results may be difficult to interpret.

• Simulation modeling and analysis can be time consuming and expensive.

• Skimping on resources for modeling and analysis may result in a simulation

model or analysis that is not sufficient for the task.
 Areas of Applications

Manufacturing: Design analysis and optimization of production

system, materials management, capacity planning, layout planning,
and performance evaluation

Military: Testing of alternative combat strategies, air operations, sea

operations, simulated war exercises, practicing ordinance
effectiveness, inventory management.

Healthcare : such as planning of health services, expected patient density,

facilities requirement, hospital staffing , estimating the effectiveness of a health
care program.
Communication:
Such as networkdesign,and optimization, evaluating network
reliability, manpower planning, sizing of message buffers.

Transportation:
Design and testing of alternative
transportation policies, transportation
networks-roads, railways, airways etc.
Evaluation of timetables, traffic planning.
 Th
an
kY
ou

================= Chapter 1 _End ================

25