Modeling and Simulation in Engineering Design and Technology: Improving Project/Product Performance

The use of modeling and simulation (M&S) to increase project or product performance within engineering design and technology is well recognized. The reasons for increasing the use of modeling and simulation applications include the ability to simulate complex real world phenomena into efficient, effective and coherent synthetic environment. Modeling and simulation are employed to gain useful insights about different phenomena under study by creating conceptualizations and considering the implementation constraints in order to develop data and fact as a basis for decision making. Modeling is purposeful abstraction and an idealization of reality, resulting in formal specification of a conceptualization and underlying certain essentials assumptions/constraints while simulation is an execution of a model and resides in the implementation level. For decades, many technologist, scientist and engineers have used models and simulation to create system improvement by analyzing, quantifying, and predicting the performance and design indicators of project/product development.

This season, we are pleased to present ten selected papers dedicated to improve project/product performance particularly by employing the modeling and simulation techniques. This issue is particularly aimed at discussing the role of M&S as a mean to gain better understanding on a phenomenon of a system and how it can be used to improve the object under study in an executable way by providing reliable testing environments and other problem-solving techniques. Furthermore, it is my pleasure to introduce Dr. Suwartha to presenting the editorial note for the special issue of IJTech based on selected papers from the 13th International Conference on Quality in Research (QiR 2013).