Simulation

Discrete-event simulation (DES) is a proven method of analyzing complex, dynamic processes that can be represented as sequences of discrete events. DES has become an indispensable tool, especially in production and logistics. This is because even minor uncertainties can significantly impact a system’s overall performance and the efficient use of resources. With simulation-based models, companies can safely examine their processes, better understand real-world system behavior, and evaluate various scenarios (Bottani & Casella, 2024).

The German VDI Guideline 3633 defines simulation as “the replication of a system and its dynamic processes in an experimentable model to gain insights that can be transferred to reality” (VDI 3633, 2014). Typical applications of such simulations include production and logistics systems, also known as material flow systems, in which all value-adding processes are represented by the flow of materials, information, or products. Material flow simulation represents these processes virtually to identify potential weak points and uncover optimization opportunities (VDI 2411 according to IPH 2025).

In recent years, simulation-based approaches have grown in importance in the industrial sector. This is due to growing system complexity, increasingly interconnected supply chains, and a general rise in uncertainty, which push traditional planning methods to their limits. Simulations offer a decisive advantage here because they create transparency early in the planning phases and help reveal cause-and-effect relationships within complex processes (SimPlan AG, 2025).