Simulation is a powerful tool. With it, you can analyze, design, and operate complex systems. Simulation models are used to assess real-world processes which are too complex to analyze via spreadsheets or flowcharts. It is used for testing hypotheses at a fraction of the cost of undertaking the actual activities. As an efficient communication tool, modeling shows how an operation works and stimulates creative thinking about how to improve it. Models in industry, government, and educational institutions shorten design cycles, reduce costs, and enhance knowledge.