Steps in experimental planning

From the underlying questions of a study and their operationalization it follows how variables are defined and which role they can have. When designing and analysing simulation experiments typically multiple response and explanatory variables exist. When 

1 Performance measures in (chemical) supply chain models 

A prominent measure of overall success is the profit obtained with a given set of resources in a given time span. Basically, the profit depends on costs, revenues and assets employed, whereby those depend on system-internal and -external influences. In SC simulation the aim is to investigate the behaviour of the system and explain the relations between its components. Here, the focus is on studying internal relations under external disturbances. Let X 6 R denote the vector of controllable independent variables and y 6 R denote the vector of dependent response variables defined in the model building phase. Furthermore, e 6 R° denotes the vector of uncontrollable variables which are not considered in detail in the model but are captured as environmental effects. The function H -) describes the real relation between dependent and independent as well as environmental variables 

Typically, the function H -) is unknown and reflects the behaviour of the real system. Since the controllable variables x are often strategic decisions, experiments in reality are often too expensive. Hence, simulation models are developed mimicking the real system s behaviour. Formally, the simulation model can be seen as a function A -) such that 

AU these components influence the profit u of the real system, i.e. 

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