Forty years of discrete-event simulation—a personal reflection

Abstract

Discrete-event simulation first emerged in the late 1950s and it has grown in popularity steadily to be now recognized as the most frequently used of the classical Operational Research techniques across a range of industries—manufacturing, travel, finance, health and beyond. I have been engaged with such simulation from 1964 up to the present day. This paper reviews the history and evolution of discrete-event simulation from his personal perspective, with a particular interest in software development up to 1992. Extrapolating from that history, the paper goes on to comment on the prospective continuing evolution of simulation and its software.

Keywords:

• simulation
• computers
• microcomputers
• history of OR
• practice of OR

Acknowledgements

The basis of this paper was first presented at the OR Society Simulation Study Group Workshop, Birmingham, UK, 23–24 March 2004. All trademarks referred to in this paper are acknowledged as appropriate. I am grateful to Philip Kiviat, Dennis Pegden and Julian Reitman, as well as others named and un-named, for their time in sharing recollections of past activities. Thanks are also due to those organizations (essentially, British Steel Corporation and ISTEL) that, in the past, granted me leave to freely make use of photographs and illustrations included. And to all those whose guidance, advice, assistance and friendship have enriched my 40 years in simulation—thank you.

If readers are aware of material omissions from or errors in what I have described (although I have sought only to document what I believe evidenced), please let me know. History continues.