Survey of academia and industry on exploitation of simulation

As the problems facing wamdacttlring systems grow in size and complexity, so does the need for revolution procedures and techniques. Simulation modelling is a tool that can help management to make basic evaluations of the different options and do sensitivity tests to evaluate what-if cases. The authors conducted a study to determine the significance of utilizing quantitative techniques in general and simulation methodology in particular in solving manufacturing problems. A questionnaire was prepared and mailed to the departments of industrial engineering in 128 universities, to the Fortune 500 companies, and to over 100 directors, managers, and technical staff of a well-known manufacturer of household electric appliances. The responses to the survey were so overwhelmingly supportive of incorporating simulation technology into corporate strategies that the company sponsoring the study asked the authors to offer a cost-effective scenario for the implementation process. In this article, the findings of that study are discussed.