Metamodel-based simulation optimization: A systematic literature review

Abstract Over the past few decades, modeling, simulation, and optimization tools have received attention for their ability to represent and improve complex systems. The use of metamodeling techniques in optimization via simulation problems has grown considerably in recent years to promote more robust and agile decision-making, determining the best scenario in the solution space. The objective of this article is to conduct a systematic literature review of metamodeling-based simulation optimization (MBSO). The main contributions of this paper are related to systematically gather, analyze, and discuss the knowledge disseminated in this area, support future research and expand the literature related to MBSO techniques. Research questions were planned to assist MBSO researchers and practitioners, by presenting the most frequent contexts, applications, methods, tools, and metrics found in metamodeling studies in optimization via simulation problems. We considered papers published in scientific journals and listed in the Web of Science, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, and Science Direct databases. The conclusion related the gaps, opportunities, and future perspectives found during the development of this research, suggesting that this research area is growing in the past 15 years.