Abstract
In order to verify, validate and graphically display results for simulation models, an analysis module (separate from the simulation itself) called Reporter Object (RO) was developed. RO receives log files (in a particular format) from any simulation model and produces (a) Gantt-type charts, showing all waiting, processing, and blocking times (including reasons for the blocking) for all desired objects (or entities) at all processing facility locations at all times of interest, and (b) pie charts depicting the percen tages represen ted by subcategories associated with a main category (e.g., the percentages of direct material, direct labor and indirect fixed costs associated with total cost). RO was designed to be either integrated with an object-oriented simulation engine or executed as a separate program for use with any simulation model. In order to illustrate its capabilities, Reporter Object is used in conjunction with STARSIM (an acronym for Space Transportation Activities and Resources SIMulation), an object- oriented, menu-driven, simulation model of Space-Shuttleground processing activities, to show RO's architectural relationship to the simulation engine, the format of required log files (and potential extensions), the types of output that may be produced and the ramifications of this output.
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