Decision Support with Simulation Modeling

Speaker: Rainer Dronzek

Abstract: Simulation modeling is moving beyond its traditional Industrial Engineering home into disciplines that have not yet taken full advantage of its capabilities. This session will be a primer on the art and science of simulation modeling. We’ll start with an overview of the technology, level set ourselves with a review of common terms in the industry and how they relate to simulation modeling (e.g., Simulation, Digital Twin, Industry 4.0), view example models in a few software tools, peek under the hood at the code, and talk about how open source tools are used in conjunction with commercially available off-the-shelf simulation modeling tools. Finally, we’ll delve into the intersection of simulation modeling and artificial intelligence, which is allowing more robust prescriptive optimization solutions than ever before.

Speaker Biography: Rainer is a Fellow Solution Architect in the Simulation & Decision Science Practice at Engineering USA, a provider of digital transformation technology solutions and services headquartered in Chicago. He has held technical and leadership positions in the aerospace, oil & gas, software, and consulting industries. He was first introduced to simulation modeling on the Space Shuttle Program at the Kennedy Space Center and has been involved ever since. His simulation project work covers a wide range of industries using many different simulation applications. He has managed simulation projects and standing teams providing modeling services, founded an independent simulation consulting firm, collaborated with universities and professional societies, and organized simulation modeling events and conferences.