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SIMULATION CONSULTING

Best way to answer “what-if” questions

A computer simulation is the imitation of a real-world system or process on a computer. Simulation is an efficient and cost-effective way to show and analyze the causes of problems and effects of alternative solutions.

We are the market leader in applying data driven simulations to solve cargo, passenger and vessel movement problems to help our clients enhance operations efficiency, reduce uncertainty, mitigate risks, and thereby save cost and improve profitability.

Our Approach

 

Go through a process of interpretive, developmental and analytical steps

1: Problem Formulation

Define the problem to be studied, the problem solving objective and the measure metrics.

2: Model Conceptualization

Abstract the system into a model described by the elements of the system, their characteristics, and their interactions, all according to the problem formulation

3: Data Collection

Identify, specify and gather data to support the model.

4: Model Building

Get the model right and efficient. But remember model building is not the main task; experimenting to look for the right solution and implementing it is.

5: Verification and Validation

Establish that the model executes as intended and the desired accuracy or correspondence exists between the model and the real system.

6: Experimentation and Analysis

Conduct experimentation with the model and make sense of the outputs.

7: Documentation & Presentation

Record an important, written history of a project and give a chronology of work done and decisions made. Deliver results in the best presentable format to facilitate decision making by clients.

Thoroughly and repeatedly scrutinize the creditability  of our simulation models

Modularization & Sequencing

Break the model into modules and develop them sequentially. Don’t get to the desired level of detail at one shot. Instead, add in levels of detail successively to make the model complex as needed.

Trace & Interactive Debugger

Print out the state of the simulation model to see if the program is operating as intended. Incorporate an interactive debugger to stop the simulation at a selected point in time, and to examine and possibly change the values of certain variables.

Periodic Crosschecking

Have more than one person read the program, as the developer may get into a mental rut and thus not be a good critic. And this is done periodically to ensure that each critical block of the program is checked.

Animation

Build an animation engine and observe the animation of simulation output for debugging and verification.

Correctness of Input

Compare the sample mean and sample variance for each simulation input probability distribution, against the desired mean and variance to ensure that values are being correctly generated.

Test Run

Run the simulation under a variety of settings of the input parameters and check to see that the output is reasonable.

Last but not least, ensure that each model passes validity tests, such as “Turing Test” or statistical procedures

Typical Simulation Studies

E

Evaluate terminal capacity, anchorage capacity and channel capacity

E

Make best use of berths, equipment and other resources

E

Compare alternatives and determine best setups

E

Identify bottlenecks and develop preventive measures

E

Visualize new operations concepts and quantify impact of change

Selected Case Studies

Demand forecast for essential marine services

The port and maritime industry is a key contributor to Singapore’s economy, accounting for 7% GDP. The Port of Singapore is one of the world’s busiest, with 134,883 vessels arriving in 2014 or an average of 369 vessels arriving daily. In terms of cargo, 581 million tonnes of cargo and 33.8 million TEUs were handled in 2014. However, the Port of Singapore faces rising competition from other regional ports, especially with Shanghai Port becoming the world’s busiest port in 2010.

Capacity assessment for ferry terminals

In 2014, the ferry terminals in Singapore handled more than 13 million trips, with a nearly equal split between regional and domestic destination. To be able to manage the expected increase in traffic while maintaining a satisfactory service level, the Maritime and Port of Singapore faced the challenge of getting a reliable demand forecast and finding cost-effective solutions to handle the passenger traffic in the long run.

Finding the best berth setup for general and bulk cargo handling

Jurong Port is a major and thriving gateway for multi-purpose cargo in Singapore and in the region. As Singapore’s only international multi-purpose port today, Jurong Port expects to see steady growth in its general and bulk cargo volumes over the near and longer term future. It is thus important for JPPL management to ascertain whether the existing and planned berth space will be enough to cater to the projected traffic volumes

Faster security check for greater customer experience

Patrons visit Marina Bay Sands (MBS) from various points of entry across several floors, creating peak traffic at different locations during different periods of time every day. When the patron flows merge at its casino entrances for security check, queues will form and sometimes require extra manpower to manage the situation. MBS faces the challenge of achieving greater customer experience at all time.

Find out more about how our simulation consulting will help you make smarter decisions