Industrial Engineering Professor Chairs International Conference on Simulation

Photo Submitted

The Winter Simulation Conference 2024 took place from Dec. 15-18 in Orlando, Florida. Co-sponsored by nine international societies, the Winter Simulation Conference is the premier conference for academics and practitioners interested in computer simulation modeling.

Manuel Rossetti, professor of industrial engineering, served as the general chair of this year's conference. In this role, Rossetti, supported by the conference committee, oversaw the entire conference, coordinating all aspects of the event, including keynote speaker selection, venue arrangements, management of the publication of over 300 technical papers and overall logistics.

In his opening remarks, Rossetti stated, "Since 1967, the Winter Simulation Conference has highlighted the value of computer simulation and provided unprecedented analytical insights for designing, planning and operating complex systems. As general chair, it has been my great honor to contribute to the continuing legacy of this well-respected conference."

The conference was attended by over 650 industry, government and university thought leaders. Heather Nachtmann, professor of industrial engineering and the Earl J. and Lillian P. Dyess Endowed Chair in Engineering, commented, "The opening Disney plenary was the best engineering conference keynote I've attended. Very interesting and informative with great speakers. Also made me feel good about the future of industrial engineering." 

Every year, the Winter Simulation Conference showcases how simulation can fuel creativity and innovation for people who design and build systems. Thanks to cutting-edge technologies like Digital Twins, artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things and advanced data analysis techniques, simulation models now offer powerful tools for understanding and improving complex systems.

These advancements move beyond traditional problem-solving. They shift the focus from just analyzing data to tapping into human creativity and imagination, helping envision and design better solutions for the future. The conference features experts who share new ideas and breakthroughs in simulation, highlighting how these tools can unlock fresh possibilities and inspire creative thinking.