Table 1.

Characteristics of discrete event simulation.

Scope:	Operational, tactical
Purpose:	Decisions: Optimizations, predictions, and comparisons
Perspective:	Analytic, emphasis on detail complexity
Importance of variability:	High
Importance of tracking individuals:	High
Number of entities:	Large
Control:	Waiting (queues)
Relative timescale:	Short
Resolution of models:	Individual entities, attributes, decisions, and events
Data sources:	Numeric with some critical elements
Lower boundary of technical preparation:	Qualitative workflow
Model elements:	Physical, tangible, information
Model outputs:	Prediction points, performance measurements
Tools:	Arena, Simul8, FlexSim/FlexSim Healthcare, ProModel/MedModel, Simio, AnyLogic, TreeAge, ExtendSim