Witness (from Lanner):
Simulation is used in many
diverse business sectors including manufacturing, finance,
electronics, retail, food & drink, automotive, defense,
utilities, oil & gas, Pharmaceutical & chemical, health,
transport and government.
Working in a simulated environment gives you the opportunity to
make key decisions quickly in response to business needs as they
arise. In many cases, simply by fine-tuning current business
activities, with Simulation, organizations discover they are able
to improve efficiency without incurring any financial investment.

WITNESS comprises of a suite of products addressing
the issues of Interactive Business Simulation, Business and
Process Mapping, Optimization, 3D visualization, Data mining &
Analysis, Resource Forecasting-Planning-Scheduling. The UK-based
Lanner Group (www.lanner.com) is widely acknowledged as the
world’s pioneering leader in Business Simulation and
Optimization.
WITNESS, the world’s leading business simulation system, gives you the power
and flexibility to model your working environment, simulate the implications
of different business decisions and understand any process, however complex.
As a result, you can always be confident that you have found the best business
solution for your organization—before making a financial commitment to change.
Designed with simplicity in mind, some of the keys to its success are:
- Simple and powerful building block design
- Modular and hierarchical structure
- Easy to use standard Windows PC implementation
- Extremely interactive
- Powerful range of logic and control options
- Elements for discrete manufacture, process industries, BPR, e-commerce, call
centers, health, finance and government
- Comprehensive statistical input and reports
- Quality graphical displays
- Great linkage—databases (ORACLE, SQL Server, Access, etc), direct
spreadsheet links in/out, XML save formats, HTML reports, links from partner
BPM and CAD applications, and more

The WITNESS family of simulation products includes:
- Manufacturing, Service and Process editions of the simulation modeling
software
- Optional fully integrated 3D/VR views or Post Processed VR including
headsets, powerwalls and more
- Optional intelligent optimization of models—unique algorithms to find the
best answer fast
- Optional Developers’ edition (SIMBA) to develop simulation applications with
custom interfaces (includes a full object model, ActiveX displays and special
viewer software)
- A range of Microsoft VISIO linked solutions
- A range of direct and graphical CAD linkage solutions
- HLA compliance options for military and other applications
Witness for Six Sigma:
The fundamental objective of a Six Sigma methodology is to implement a
measurement-based strategy focused on process improvement and reducing
internal or external variables. Most organizations when beginning a Six
Sigma project ask themselves:
What are my customer issues?
How am I prioritizing projects?
How do I collect information?
How can I implement improvements?
Because Six Sigma success is driven from metrics and process
methodology, long-term success requires agile and robust technology and
solutions that deliver: the metrics and measures, an integrated view of
the business, simulation of “what if” scenarios and optimization of stated
measures.
Lanner’s in-depth support for Six Sigma Projects includes:
Direct linkage to MINITAB Statistical software
Unique WITNESS Six Sigma Optimization Algorithm
Direct Reports on Sigma Ratings
Function calculation for multi-defect Sigma ratings
WITNESS Designer Element Palette for Six Sigma
These enhancements in WITNESS build on the powerful and flexible nature of WITNESS models that allows for the flexible rules that govern process operation including aspects such as resource allocation, distributional timings, complex routing and work schedules and rates. WITNESS easily handles concepts such as scrap and rework and also allows easy use and export of data to and from databases and Microsoft Excel.
Some of the new WITNESS screens offer rating statistics and a view of the results of the unique WITNESS Six Sigma Optimizer algorithm that applies intelligent search methods but limits the overall levels of change to fit in with the process.