Simulation Using Building Blocks

In this paper we sketch how the use of building blocks provides added value for improving the effectiveness of simulation studies. Research conducted by other groups regarding building blocks is in our view not yet sufficient for successful application in the field of discrete event simulation. In addition the sets of building blocks provided by simulation vendors do not provide the added value we expect. To improve the effectiveness of simulation studies we identified a set of requirements for the architecture of building blocks. It was possible to implement this architecture in existing simulation environments. In a case for modeling business processes in banking environments we used a set of building blocks that has been designed according to the mentioned requirements, to illustrate the improved effectiveness.