Abstract

Simulation models are important instruments for analysing business systems. They are classified into time-discrete and time-continuous simulation models, for example Discrete Event Systems (DEVS) or System Dynamics (SD) models. These special models are particularly suitable to analyse subsystems of a business system with either time-discrete or time-continuous behaviour. However, in general they are not appropriate to analyse a business system which shows time-discrete and time-continuous behaviour simultaneously. Analysing business systems with time-discrete and time-continuous behaviour with isolated submodels and consolidating the findings of these analyses afterwards may lead to redundancy and consistency problems. In this paper an approach for developing hybrid simulation models, which exhibit time-discrete and time-continuous behaviour, is presented. The hybrid simulation models contain DEVS and SD simulation submodels that are coupled. The approach introduces a structural model of business systems that consists of several control layers with timediscrete or time-continuous behaviour, as well as a modelling approach for integrating DEVS and SD submodels by coupling mechanisms. Finally, an investigation of a market case illustrates the use of the presented approach.

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