The purpose of this report is to provide an introduction to the regenerative method for simulation analysis. The simulations are simulations of stochastic systems, i.e., systems with random elements. The regenerative approach leads to a statistical methodology for analyzing the output of those simulations which have the property of 'starting afresh probabilistically' from time to time. The class of such simulations is very large and very important, including simulations of a broad variety of queues and queueing networks, inventory systems, inspection, maintenance, and repair operations, and numerous other situations.

Simulation means driving a model of a system with suitable inputs and observing the corresponding outputs. It is widely applied in engineering, in business, and in the physical and social sciences. Simulation method ology araws on computer. science, statistics, and operations research and is now sufficiently developed and coherent to be called a discipline in its own right. A course in simulation is an essential part of any operations re search or computer science program. A large fraction of applied work in these fields involves simulation; the techniques of simulation, as tools, are as fundamental as those of linear programming or compiler construction, for example. Simulation sometimes appears deceptively easy, but perusal of this book will reveal unexpected depths. Many simulation studies are statistically defective and many simulation programs are inefficient. We hope that our book will help to remedy this situation. It is intended to teach how to simulate effectively. A simulation project has three crucial components, each of which must always be tackled: (1) data gathering, model building, and validation; (2) statistical design and estimation; (3) programming and implementation. Generation of random numbers (Chapters 5 and 6) pervades simulation, but unlike the three components above, random number generators need not be constructed from scratch for each project. Usually random number packages are available. That is one reason why the chapters on random numbers, which contain mainly reference material, follow the ch!lPters deal ing with experimental design and output analysis.

Students of statistics, operations research, and engineering will be informed of simulation methodology for problems in both mathematical statistics and systems simulation. This discussion presents many of the necessary statistical and graphical techniques. A discussion of statistical methods based on graphical techniques and exploratory data is among the highlights of Simulation Methodology for Statisticians, Operations Analysts, and Engineers. For students who only have a minimal background in statistics and probability theory, the first five chapters provide an introduction to simulation.

Simulation, Sixth Edition continues to introduce aspiring and practicing actuaries, engineers, computer scientists and others to the practical aspects of constructing computerized simulation studies to analyze and interpret real phenomena. Readers will learn to apply the results of these analyses to problems in a wide variety of fields to obtain effective, accurate solutions and make predictions. By explaining how a computer can be used to generate random numbers and how to use these random numbers to generate the behavior of a stochastic model over time, this book presents the statistics needed to analyze simulated data and validate simulation models. - Includes updated content throughout - Offers a wealth of practice exercises as well as applied use of free software package R - Features the author's well-known, award-winning and accessible approach to complex information