8.1 Introduction

Simulation provides valuable benefits to a product development project, starting with the initial requirements definition phase and continuing through support for a mature fielded product. By making use of simulation techniques at every stage of the process where they are appropriate, overall product quality can be enhanced while development cycle time and risks are reduced. In the remainder of this chapter, I will discuss the ways simulation can be used in each of the development phases shown in Figure 8.1 to enhance product quality, shorten the development cycle, and reduce project risk.

Figure 8.1: Steps in the product development process.

8.2 Requirements Definition

The requirements definition phase of the product development cycle is where the basic functionality of the product is determined. In a typical approach to requirements definition, the product requirements are determined by asking potential system users to identify the things they want and need the product to do. The product designers examine the resulting desired capabilities and identify those that they can realistically provide and those that they believe they cannot satisfy given the available development time and resources. There may be several iterations of this process between the customers and designers before a final agreed-upon list of requirements for the product is reached. The result of this phase of the project is a list of requirements along with the expected time and cost for the development effort.

This approach to requirements definition frequently leads to difficulties because it requires the customers to...