Simulation Techniques for Decision Making in OR

A practical introduction to simulation modelling, allowing you to understand the benefits of simulation and when to use it.

Description

  • An introduction to simulation modelling
  • Understand its benefits and potential applications in a variety of contexts.
  • Diversify your analytical skills with simulation modelling

Learning objectives

  • Introduction to using software for discrete event simulation (DES) 
  • Introduction to modelling in Excel (Monte Carlo) 
  • How to use models to explore different scenarios 
  • Data needs for DES simulation models 

Topics

  • Introduction to simulation 
  • Visual interactive simulation 
  • Simulation in Excel 
  • Simulation data needs and analysis 
  • Simulation experimentation and calibration 

Audience

An ideal course for any analyst in any organisation wishing to develop their practice in this approach.

The course is useful for managers that have simulation models put in front of them and need to critically evaluate these (be able to ask some pertinent questions).

Course format

  • PowerPoint presentation to introduce the topics 
  • Case studies based on ‘real world’ problems 
  • Practical sessions using Simul8 software and Microsoft Excel with the analysis tool pack 
  • Group discussion/work to explore the topics in more detail 
  • Bring questions from your own work to embed your learning 
  • Supporting resource pack available to use following the course 

Related courses

  • OR and the OR Process 
  • Essential OR Skills for Practitioners
  • Statistical Methods in OR: Descriptive Statistics, Sampling and Regression 
  • Statistical Methods in OR: Forecasting 

Want to run this course in-house? Enquire about running this course in-house

Meet the tutor

Kathy Kotiadis

Kathy has ran the simulation course for the OR society for about 15 years and is keen to introduce the theory alongside real simulation modelling practice. Kathy is an academic at the University of Kent and hold the post of Professor in Operational Research/Management Science. She has held academic positions previously at Canterbury Christ Church Business School and at the Warwick Business School.

Kathy is the co-founder of PartiSim, which stands for Participatory Simulation, an approach to support stakeholder involvement in the discrete event simulation modelling process. She has led many simulation studies in areas such  as health care, transport and more recently net zero. She is the recipient of the Tocher (OR Society) medal for her work in simulation.