There are two types of simulations with respect to output analysis:

Terminating simulation:

• Runs for some duration of time $T_E$, where E is a specified event that stops the simulation.

• Starts at time 0 under well-specified initial conditions.

• Ends at the stopping time $T_E$.

• Bank example: Opens at 8:30 am (time 0) with no customers present and 8 of the 11 teller working (initial conditions), and closes at 4:30 pm (Time $T_E$ = 480 minutes).

• The simulation analyst chooses to consider it a terminating system because the object of interest is one day’s operation.

A non terminating simulation is one that executes continuously.

Non-terminating simulation:

• Runs continuously, or at least over a very long period of time.

• Examples: assembly lines that shut down infrequently, telephone systems, hospital emergency rooms.

• Study the steady-state (long-run) properties of the system, properties that are not influenced by the initial conditions of the model.