Sensible simulation for industrial systems

Abstract

This paper introduces a new series of short articles that will appear in Simulation in the coming months. Their common topic will be the use of simulation in solving industrial-process problems. This paper briefly surveys the use of operations-research (OR) methods by large industrial organizations and notes that only 60% of the OR projeets included in the sur vey were successful. The purpose of the new series is to identify those areas where simulation is an effective tool and those where it is not. Readers are asked to submit articles and letters on success ful and unsuccessful applications of simulation, on guidelines for using simulation in studying indus trial processes, and on better ways of using simula tion in operations research.