Simulation optimization: a review of algorithms and applications

Satyajith Amaran (), Nikolaos V. Sahinidis (), Bikram Sharda () and Scott J. Bury ()
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Satyajith Amaran: Carnegie Mellon University
Nikolaos V. Sahinidis: Carnegie Mellon University
Bikram Sharda: The Dow Chemical Company
Scott J. Bury: The Dow Chemical Company

Annals of Operations Research, 2016, vol. 240, issue 1, No 14, 380 pages

Abstract: Abstract Simulation optimization (SO) refers to the optimization of an objective function subject to constraints, both of which can be evaluated through a stochastic simulation. To address specific features of a particular simulation—discrete or continuous decisions, expensive or cheap simulations, single or multiple outputs, homogeneous or heterogeneous noise—various algorithms have been proposed in the literature. As one can imagine, there exist several competing algorithms for each of these classes of problems. This document emphasizes the difficulties in SO as compared to algebraic model-based mathematical programming, makes reference to state-of-the-art algorithms in the field, examines and contrasts the different approaches used, reviews some of the diverse applications that have been tackled by these methods, and speculates on future directions in the field.

Keywords: Simulation optimization; Optimization via simulation; Derivative-free optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1007/s10479-015-2019-x

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