Cloud based Simulation Platform (CSP): A Novel Way to Democratize Simulation Based Experimentation

Organizations today are integrating technologies such as cloud computing and digital twins in their manufacturing and logistical processes. In a capital-intensive logistics industry, discrete event simulation (DES) plays a crucial role in distribution center design, automation system performance analysis, optimization, and operational planning. Developing and deploying DES models demands proficiency in various simulation software and programming languages, imposing limitations on the widespread use of simulation for experimentation. This paper presents a cloud simulation platform (CSP) based on Amazon Web Services that is a secure and scalable solution for seamless execution and democratization of DES. CSP empowers simulation practitioners to execute simulation models and perform scientific experiments. The paper also provides details of the CSP architecture consisting of data import and export modules and a simulation integration module. As an example, a simulation-based staffing tool deployed through CSP is presented.