Optimizing discrete stochastic systems using simulated annealing and simulation

The objective of this paper is to present an integrated approach of two models: simulation and optimization. This approach is used to determine the design parameters of stochastically constrained systems where the measure of performance is available only via simulation. The optimization model is solved using simulated annealing (SA) for parameter selection followed by the use of Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the measure of performance. Based on the expected simulation output, the parameter set is either accepted or rejected