Organisational qualifications

• Simulation ideally before implementation
• Clear definition of aims
• Select team of planners and simulators
• Gather all required input data
• Assess time requirement and include in the scope of the project: Simulation expenditure (from model generation to solution)
• Expenditure for the affected specialist department (technical support and data delivery for the simulator)
• Expenditure for other affected areas

From experience the total expenditure is divided as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: Percentage breakdown of total expenditure

Economical qualifications

• Determination of costs
• Indication of the targeted benefit
• Profitability calculation
• Budgeting

Technical qualifications

• Clarifying the hardware and software basis
• Determining data sources and data preparation

Psychological qualifications

• Generate openness towards alternatives
• Question practical constraints
• Ensure acceptance of the simulation results
• Draw conclusions from the results if necessary
• Appropriate team assembly

Besides the qualifications, the limitations of the use of simulation must be taken into account.