SAP Simulation


What is Simulation?

Simulation modeling is the capability to leverage analytics and digital tools to help answer “what-if” questions in the business context. These tools help you evaluate the impact of business decisions on your business processes and may help you select the most optimal decision. An example may be manufacturing scheduling. A simulation modeling tool can help you evaluate the impact of various scheduling approaches on manufacturing cycle time.

What is Simulation?

Simulation modeling is the capability to leverage analytics and digital tools to help answer “what-if” questions in the business context. These tools help you evaluate the impact of business decisions on your business processes and may help you select the most optimal decision. An example may be manufacturing scheduling. A simulation modeling tool can help you evaluate the impact of various scheduling approaches on manufacturing cycle time.

Simulation tools often help evaluate recommendations from other analytics approaches like optimization, without implementing those recommendations in the real-world. The three most widely used process simulation modeling types are:

  • System dynamics
  • Discrete event modeling
  • Agent-based modeling

Simulation Technologies Available in the SAP World

Process simulation modeling tools have been leveraged extensively in SAP technology ecosystem. An example is SIMUL8, which is a flow simulation program that can help you visualize your process flows, understand the bottlenecks, and evaluate the impact of change in parameters on the process. As far as non-SAP process simulation modeling solutions are concerned, all leading simulation software tools like AnyLogic and Simio integrate well with SAP environments.

Key Considerations for SAPinsiders

Understand the methods and process alignment. The choice of method that should be used is based on the system being modeled and the purpose of the model. It is therefore critical to understand which specific simulation method will be a good fit. This is important from the perspective of tools being leveraged since some tools have more coverage and use cases in certain methods.

Define the level of abstraction of the process model. This is where you define how detailed your model needs to be. Remember that this depends on the modeling objective. As an example, if you are trying to gain an understanding of the cycle time of a product flow across the supply chain, you do not need to model individual processes within a manufacturing location. But if your simulation model is going to focus on the impact of changeover time on a manufacturing line, you may have to model the entire line flow in detail.

Think about integration with tools like business process intelligence (BPI). Note that the majority of BPI tools already do a good job of capturing process flow and building a model from that flow. Not all of them, however, offer simulation capabilities and those that do may not have the features a standalone pure simulation tool or module may offer. By strategically integrating a simulation tool with a BPI tool, you can create a solution that takes your process management capabilities even further.

821 results

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    Published: 12/April/2011

    Reading time: 20 mins

    Xcelsius dashboard applications present facts graphically, providing insight that helps in making business decisions. However, the future is uncertain and decisions should take that into account. Learn how Xcelsius can transform business facts into statistically valid probability models that give a more accurate view of the future using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Sample code is...…

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    Published: 27/February/2017

    Reading time: 30 mins

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  3. Run Payroll Simulations Directly from Infotype 0008 (Basic Pay)

    Published: 15/May/2006

    Reading time: 8 mins

    By configuring feature PM004, you can run a payroll simulation for an employee directly from infotype 0008 (basic pay). Key Concept When viewing an employee’s infotype 0008 record or making any amendments to basic pay, it is often useful to run a payroll simulation to view the employee’s payslip. You can do so by configuring...…

  4. Improve Your Asset Reporting with Two Overlooked Tools

    Published: 15/October/2007

    Reading time: 9 mins

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  5. Combine Product Interchangeability with Iterative Rules-Based Availability to Deliver the Right Quantity to Customers

    Published: 28/December/2015

    Reading time: 19 mins

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  6. Meeting Demand with a Constrained Supply Using Product Allocation in SAP APO Global ATP

    Published: 09/March/2016

    Reading time: 22 mins

    Learn the process flow of how product allocation can be used in SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (SAP APO) Global available-to-promise (Global ATP) to meet customer requirements by managing the supply of scarce products. The system can perform availability checks in conjunction with product allocation checks. Key Concept Availability checks, also known as available-to-promise (ATP),...…

  7. Use Document Simulation in the New G/L to See How the System Posts G/L Documents

    Published: 15/May/2007

    Reading time: 8 mins

    The classic G/L offers a feature called document simulation that helps you determine how the system automatically generates accounting entries, troubleshoot and fix missing configuration settings, and identify and rectify any mistakes made before posting the accounting transaction. This feature has improved in the new G/L and adds particular benefit to document splitting. Using document...…

  8. Step-by-Step Statistical Forecasting Using SAP APO

    Published: 22/June/2012

    Reading time: 25 mins

    ManagementLearn a 15-step methodology for executing forecasting projects in SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization. Understand the most common methods of statistical analysis. Learn best practices for implementing these methods in practice. Key Concept Forecast strategies are used in SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization to decide how forecast values are calculated. Selecting a method depends on...…

  9. Write Ad-Hoc Analysis Programs That Are Mobile Friendly with SAPUI5

    Published: 11/February/2014

    Reading time: 19 mins

    SAP Professional JournalSee how to implement SAPUI5 to provide your users with interactivity and the ability to analyze data when they are on their smartphones or tablets. Key Concept SAPUI5 is a user interface (UI) technology with features and APIs that allow you to build lightweight and responsive Web and mobile applications. It is open...…

  10. How to Achieve Optimal Inventory Levels with SAP Integrated Business Planning for Inventory

    Published: 16/August/2017

    Reading time: 20 mins

    Learn how to achieve optimal inventory levels for raw materials, work in process, and finished products across the supply chain with SAP Integrated Business Planning. Key Concept The unified planning area, SAP Integrated Business Planning’s standard planning area, provides end-to-end business processes related to all the technical details of a planning area in SAP Integrated...…