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Research and publications

Andrew Siprelle created discrete rate simulation in 1990, first called bulk flow. The team at Simulation Dynamics, the firm he founded in the early 1990s, published at the Winter Simulation Conference from 1995 on. This page collects that work, papers customers wrote about projects done with our tools, and related research by others.

Our papers Customer papers Press Books Related research

Peer-reviewed papers & proceedings

Papers by the Simulation Dynamics and ChiAha team

From modeling bulk manufacturing in 1995 to supply chain inventory, run length and logistics network design in the 2000s. Read the history of discrete rate simulation for how the method started.

2010Safety Stock Savings from Flexible Ordering: A Simulation StudyDavid J. Parsons, Simulation Dynamics. 2004Impact of Production Run Length on Supply Chain PerformanceDavid J. Parsons, Robin J. Clark, Kevin L. Payette, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 2004. 2003Benefits of Using a Supply Chain Simulation Tool to Study Inventory AllocationAndrew J. Siprelle, David J. Parsons, Robin J. Clark, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 2003. 2003Initializing a Distribution Supply Chain Simulation with Live DataMalay A. Dalal, Union Pacific Railroad; Henry Bell, Mike Denzien, Simulation Dynamics; Michael P. Keller, Insight Network Logistics. WSC 2003. 2002Non-Item Based Discrete Event Simulation ToolsRichard A. Phelps, David J. Parsons, Andrew J. Siprelle, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 2002. 2002Simulation of Transuranic Waste Processing, Transportation, and Disposal OperationsSue Downes, Sandia National Laboratories; David J. Parsons, Amber D. Clay, Simulation Dynamics. Waste Management Symposium 2002. 2001SDI Supply Chain Builder: Simulation from Atoms to the EnterpriseRichard A. Phelps, David J. Parsons, Andrew J. Siprelle, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 2001. 2001Production Scheduling Validity in High Level Supply Chain ModelsDavid J. Parsons, Richard A. Phelps, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 2001. 2001Performance Assessment of Supply Chain SimulationsDavid J. Parsons, Andrew J. Siprelle, Richard A. Phelps, Simulation Dynamics. 2001Combined Use of Optimization and Simulation Technologies to Design an Optimal Logistics NetworkGlenn W. Wegryn, Associate Director, Global Analytics, The Procter & Gamble Company; Andrew J. Siprelle, Simulation Dynamics. Council of Logistics Management, 2001. 2000The SDI Industry Product Suite: Simulation from the Production Line to the Supply ChainRichard A. Phelps, David J. Parsons, Andrew J. Siprelle, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 2000. 2000A Supply Chain Case Study of a Food Manufacturing MergerDavid J. Parsons, Andrew J. Siprelle, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 2000. 2000Simulation of Waste Processing, Transportation, and Disposal OperationsJanis Trone, Angela Guerin, Sandia National Laboratories; Amber D. Clay, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 2000. 1999SDI Industry Pro: Simulation for Enterprise-Wide Problem SolvingAndrew J. Siprelle, David J. Parsons, Richard A. Phelps, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 1999. 1999Tactical Logistics and Distribution Systems (TLoaDS) SimulationDavid J. Parsons, L. C. Krause, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 1999. 1998SDI Industry: An Extend-Based Tool for Continuous and High-Speed ManufacturingAndrew J. Siprelle, Richard A. Phelps, M. Michelle Barnes, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 1998. 1998Capacity Planning Simulation of an Olive Processing PlantM. Michelle Barnes, Richard A. Phelps, Simulation Dynamics; Robert Rugeroni, Lindsay Olive Company. Manuscript, 1998.

1998Modeling Offshore Pipelaying Operations Using SimulationD. C. Angelides; Richard A. Phelps, Simulation Dynamics; W. T. Himel. International Journal of Offshore and Polar Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 3, September 1998.

1997Simulation of Bulk Flow and High Speed OperationsAndrew J. Siprelle, Richard A. Phelps, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 1997. 1997Using a Making/Packing Simulator to Aid in Process ReengineeringDavid J. Parsons, Andrew J. Siprelle, Simulation Dynamics. Powder & Bulk Solids Conference, 1997. 1997Solving Problems in Processing & Packaging Using SimulatorsAndrew J. Siprelle, Simulation Dynamics. Powder & Bulk Solids Conference, 1997. 1997Integrating Manufacturing and Supply Chain SimulationSimulation Dynamics, February 1997. Multi-level modeling across SDI Manufacturing and SDI Supply Chain. 1997Modeling a Microbrewing Facility Using Discrete Event SimulationAndrew J. Siprelle, Simulation Dynamics. Presentation paper, c.1997. 1995Modeling a Bulk Manufacturing System Using ExtendAndrew J. Siprelle, David J. Parsons, Simulation Dynamics. WSC 1995. Soap Manufacturer Saves Over $4 Million with SDI Industry ProSimulation Dynamics case study.

Customer & partner publications

Papers customers wrote about their own projects

Peer-reviewed papers by customers and partners about work carried out with our tools. They wrote these, not us. The 2020 paper is the one behind our published OEE validation.

2020High Accuracy Discrete Rate and Reliability Modeling to Drive Improvement of Plant OEE and ThroughputLawrence B. Fischel, Clorox Services Company; Thomas J. Lange, Technology, Optimization, and Management. WSC 2020. 2007A Supply Chain Paradigm to Model Business Processes at the Y-12 National Security ComplexReid Kress, Jack Dixon, Tom Insalaco, Richard Rinehart, Y-12 National Security Complex. WSC 2007. 2006Database-Intensive Process Simulation at the Y-12 National Security ComplexReid Kress, Karen Bills, Jack Dixon, Richard Rinehart, BWXT Y-12. WSC 2006. 2003Discrete-Event Model of Mining Operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot PlantReid Kress, University of Tennessee; Carla Mewhinney, Sue Downes, Sandia National Laboratories. Waste Management Symposium 2003. Built on Extend with SDI Industry. 2001T.LoaDS Abbreviated Systems ArchitectureBob Hamber, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center. WSC 2001.

Press & trade coverage

Trade press and talks

Independent trade press and presentations covering our work, plus recent coverage in USA Today, Business Insider and Digital Trends.

2025How Data-Based Simulations Find the Fastest Wins and Best Options for OptimizationChiAha presentation, 2025. 2004Simulation Dynamics Takes the Guess-Work Out of SCMIndustrial Engineer advertorial, March 2004. Roland Fortner, Malay Dalal and Mike Keller of Insight Network Logistics, a Union Pacific subsidiary. 2004Supply Chain Performance Enhanced Using SimulationValerie Hendrix and Paula Solomon, Simulation Dynamics. BusinessWeek project profile, 2004. 2003Virtual Engineering’s New FrontierKevin T. Higgins, Senior Editor, Food Engineering, 22 March 2003. Andrew J. Siprelle on flow architecture; Robert Rugeroni, Bell-Carter Foods; Malcolm Beaverstock, General Mills. 2001Simulation Dynamics Puts Power into SCMIIE Solutions, June 2001. Featuring Mike Geddis, Director of Engineering, General Mills. Lindsay Olive Company Thrives on SimulationFood Online case study. Robert Rugeroni, Lindsay Olive Company, on the SDI Industry capacity model.

Books

Books from our team

Problem solving, machine learning and science writing by members of the ChiAha team.

Eight Principles of Effective Problem Solving

Eight Principles of Effective Problem Solving

Educating Problem Solvers

Educating Problem Solvers

AI: Thinking Without Understanding

AI: Thinking Without Understanding

Machine Learning Projects for .NET Developers

ML Projects for .NET Developers

Mathias Brandewinder

Infinity Within His Grasp

Infinity Within His Grasp

Gravity

Gravity: How to Weigh the Sun

COVID-19: Anatomy of a Pandemic

COVID-19: Anatomy of a Pandemic

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