OR/MS Today - 2007 - SIMULATION SOFTWARE SURVEY

OR/MS Today

Simulation Software Survey

The information in the survey was provided by the vendors in response to a questionnaire developed by James Swain. The survey should not be considered as comprehensive, but rather as a representation of available simulation packages.

Questionnaires were sent to simulation vendors drawn from previous survey participants, the OR/MS Today database and other sources. It includes the products of those vendors who responded by the deadline. If you know of a simulation package that is not in this survey, please contact Patton McGinley at (770) 431-0867, ext. 214 or e-mail patton@lionhrtpub.com. It will be included in an online version.

Editor's note: We received more than 65 packages for this survey. Due to space constraints, we could only list 48 in the printed version of OR/MS Today. Among the submissions left out were multiple versions of simulation packages from certain vendors, packages that didn't fit the parameters of the survey [such as Expert Fit (www.averill-law.com) and Stat::Fit (www.geerms.com), which are not actually simulation programs, though they support simulation] and packages that arrived after the deadline. This online version list all 65 of the submitted packages, including those not seen in the print version and those that arrived after the deadline.

Be sure to read the accompanying article

The survey is divided into 8 separate pages. Following is an index of the pages and the information they contain:

Page 1: Vendors
Typical Applications of the software
Primary Markets for which the software is applied
System Requirements: RAM , Operating Systems

Page 2
Model Building: Graphical model construction (icon or drag-and-drop), Model building using programming/ access to programmed modules, Run time debug

Page 3
Model Building (continued): Input Distribution Fitting (Specify), Output Analysis Support (Specify), Batch run or experimental design (Specify)

Page 4
Model Building (continued): Optimization (Specify), Code reuse (e.g., objects, templates), Model Packaging (e.g., can completed model be shared with others who might lack the software to develop their own model?), Tools to support packaging (Specify), Does this feature cost extra?

Page 5
Model Building (continued): Cost Allocation/Costing, Mixed Discrete/Continuous Modeling (Levels, Flows, etc.)
Animation: Animation, Real-time viewing, Export animation (e.g., MPEG version that can run independent of simulation for presentation), Compatible animation software, 3D Animation, Import CAD drawings

Page 6
Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information; Typical Applications of the software
Primary Markets for which the software is applied
System Requirements: RAM , Operating Systems

Page 2
Model Building: Graphical model construction (icon or drag-and-drop), Model building using programming/ access to programmed modules, Run time debug

Page 3
Model Building (continued): Input Distribution Fitting (Specify), Output Analysis Support (Specify), Batch run or experimental design (Specify)

Page 4
Model Building (continued): Optimization (Specify), Code reuse (e.g., objects, templates), Model Packaging (e.g., can completed model be shared with others who might lack the software to develop their own model?), Tools to support packaging (Specify), Does this feature cost extra?

Page 5
Model Building (continued): Cost Allocation/Costing, Mixed Discrete/Continuous Modeling (Levels, Flows, etc.)
Animation: Animation, Real-time viewing, Export animation (e.g., MPEG version that can run independent of simulation for presentation), Compatible animation software, 3D Animation, Import CAD drawings

Page 6
Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information; Primary Markets for which the software is applied
System Requirements: RAM , Operating Systems

Page 2
Model Building: Graphical model construction (icon or drag-and-drop), Model building using programming/ access to programmed modules, Run time debug

Page 3
Model Building (continued): Input Distribution Fitting (Specify), Output Analysis Support (Specify), Batch run or experimental design (Specify)

Page 4
Model Building (continued): Optimization (Specify), Code reuse (e.g., objects, templates), Model Packaging (e.g., can completed model be shared with others who might lack the software to develop their own model?), Tools to support packaging (Specify), Does this feature cost extra?

Page 5
Model Building (continued): Cost Allocation/Costing, Mixed Discrete/Continuous Modeling (Levels, Flows, etc.)
Animation: Animation, Real-time viewing, Export animation (e.g., MPEG version that can run independent of simulation for presentation), Compatible animation software, 3D Animation, Import CAD drawings

Page 6
Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information; System Requirements: RAM , Operating Systems

Page 2
Model Building: Graphical model construction (icon or drag-and-drop), Model building using programming/ access to programmed modules, Run time debug

Page 3
Model Building (continued): Input Distribution Fitting (Specify), Output Analysis Support (Specify), Batch run or experimental design (Specify)

Page 4
Model Building (continued): Optimization (Specify), Code reuse (e.g., objects, templates), Model Packaging (e.g., can completed model be shared with others who might lack the software to develop their own model?), Tools to support packaging (Specify), Does this feature cost extra?

Page 5
Model Building (continued): Cost Allocation/Costing, Mixed Discrete/Continuous Modeling (Levels, Flows, etc.)
Animation: Animation, Real-time viewing, Export animation (e.g., MPEG version that can run independent of simulation for presentation), Compatible animation software, 3D Animation, Import CAD drawings

Page 6
Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information
Page 2: Model Building: Graphical model construction (icon or drag-and-drop), Model building using programming/ access to programmed modules, Run time debug

Page 3
Model Building (continued): Input Distribution Fitting (Specify), Output Analysis Support (Specify), Batch run or experimental design (Specify)

Page 4
Model Building (continued): Optimization (Specify), Code reuse (e.g., objects, templates), Model Packaging (e.g., can completed model be shared with others who might lack the software to develop their own model?), Tools to support packaging (Specify), Does this feature cost extra?

Page 5
Model Building (continued): Cost Allocation/Costing, Mixed Discrete/Continuous Modeling (Levels, Flows, etc.)
Animation: Animation, Real-time viewing, Export animation (e.g., MPEG version that can run independent of simulation for presentation), Compatible animation software, 3D Animation, Import CAD drawings

Page 6
Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information
Page 3: Model Building (continued): Input Distribution Fitting (Specify), Output Analysis Support (Specify), Batch run or experimental design (Specify)

Page 4
Model Building (continued): Optimization (Specify), Code reuse (e.g., objects, templates), Model Packaging (e.g., can completed model be shared with others who might lack the software to develop their own model?), Tools to support packaging (Specify), Does this feature cost extra?

Page 5
Model Building (continued): Cost Allocation/Costing, Mixed Discrete/Continuous Modeling (Levels, Flows, etc.)
Animation: Animation, Real-time viewing, Export animation (e.g., MPEG version that can run independent of simulation for presentation), Compatible animation software, 3D Animation, Import CAD drawings

Page 6
Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information
Page 4: Model Building (continued): Optimization (Specify), Code reuse (e.g., objects, templates), Model Packaging (e.g., can completed model be shared with others who might lack the software to develop their own model?), Tools to support packaging (Specify), Does this feature cost extra?

Page 5
Model Building (continued): Cost Allocation/Costing, Mixed Discrete/Continuous Modeling (Levels, Flows, etc.)
Animation: Animation, Real-time viewing, Export animation (e.g., MPEG version that can run independent of simulation for presentation), Compatible animation software, 3D Animation, Import CAD drawings

Page 6
Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information
Page 5: Model Building (continued): Cost Allocation/Costing, Mixed Discrete/Continuous Modeling (Levels, Flows, etc.)
Animation: Animation, Real-time viewing, Export animation (e.g., MPEG version that can run independent of simulation for presentation), Compatible animation software, 3D Animation, Import CAD drawings

Page 6
Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information
Page 6: Support/Training: User Support/Hotline, User group or discussion area, Training Courses, On site Training, Consulting Available
Price: Standard, Student Version

Page 7
Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information
Page 7: Major new features (since 2005)
Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information; Vendor Comments

Vendor List
Software vendor contact information
Vendor List: Software vendor contact information

The survey appeared in the October 2007 issue of OR/MS Today. To order a copy of this issue, contact Customer Service at 770-431-0867, ext. 224 or send e-mail to: csr@lionhrtpub.com.

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