Sequence-Based Simulation Optimization: An Application to Container Terminals

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method for simulation-optimization that incorporates the sequence in which the decision variables (resource levels) are optimized. The authors hypothesize that implementing such a sequence will reach a comparable solution in less computation time than the traditional method of optimizing simulations. Since container terminals are complex stochastic systems as they consist of different areas, each with detailed and critical functions that may affect the output, this method is applied and tested on a container terminal simulation model. This approach is anticipated to reduce the search space and improve the efficiency of the optimization process.