Quality assessment of the simulation modeling process

Quality assessment is not common practice in the engineering field of simul ation modeling. Though the well-known quality aspects (correctness, reliabi lity, usability, etc.) are relevant to simulation modeling, model validatio n is the favorite simulation feature. This does not imply that a successful model validation will guarantee a proper handling of the other quality asp ects. In this paper an integrated approach to the quality improvement probl em is proposed. This approach incorporates project management, good practic e in software engineering and improvement of the simulation modeling proces s (SMP) in particular. The SMP has to be optimized by means of a model (QUA SIMODEM) of the SMP. QUASIMODEM will facilitate the intended improvements t hrough five stages of the upgrading process. QUASIMODEM has been designed a s a tool and will be built to support this approach. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.