## 2 Background and Research Gaps
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Field of Application** & **Main Benefits** & **Main Challenges** & **Main References** \\ \hline
4. & DES is used to simulate traffic flow, public transportation systems, and logistics networks. It aids in designing efficient traffic management systems, evaluating congestion scenarios, and optimizing transportation schedules. & Complex urban layouts, unpredictable traffic patterns, coordination with multiple agencies & [41; 42; 43] \\ \hline
5. & The aerospace and defense industries use DES to model complex systems, such as air traffic control, military operations, and logistics. It helps in optimizing resource allocation and decision-making in these critical sectors. & Highly complex systems, security concerns, regulatory compliance & [44; 45; 46] \\ \hline
6. & DES is employed in retail and customer service to model customer queues, store layouts, and service operations. It assists in improving customer safety allocation. & Demand variability, inventory management complexities, customer behavior prediction & [47; 48; 49] \\ \hline
7. & DES is used to model power generation and distribution systems, allowing for analysis of energy demand, reliability, and potential issues. & Complex interactions, long-term data requirements, unpredictability of natural systems & [50; 51; 52] \\ \hline
8. & DES can be used to model ecological systems and environmental processes, such as water management, ecosystem dynamics, and pollution control. & Complex interactions, long-term data requirements, unpredictability of natural systems & [53; 54; 55] \\ \hline
9. & DES is applied in financial services for modeling trading systems, portfolio management, and risk assessment. It helps with understanding the impact of different trading strategies and market conditions. & High market volatility, reliance on predictive models, regulatory constraints & [56; 57; 58] \\ \hline
10. & DES is employed in the development of video games, serious games, and simulations for entertainment and training purposes. It provides a realistic and dynamic environment for users. & High demand for realism, computational intensity, rapidly evolving technology & [47; 59; 60] \\ \hline
11. & Educational institutions and organizations use DES for training purposes, such as simulating business processes, medical procedures, and military training exercises. & Diverse educational needs, resource constraints, evolving educational methods & [61; 62; 63] \\ \hline
12. & DES helps urban planners simulate the impact of various city development scenarios, traffic management, and infrastructure changes to optimize city designs and services. & Complex social dynamics, integrating diverse systems, long-term planning challenges & [64; 65; 66] \\ \hline
13. & DES assists in modeling network traffic, call centers, and communication systems to optimize resource allocation and improve service quality. & Rapid technological changes, high data traffic, complex network management & [67; 68; 69] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: _Cont._In this research, simulation is applied in the manufacturing field. However, the use of KET in production is widespread, as it allows the characteristics of a product or process to be studied and tested digitally at an early stage, preventing design errors and reducing time to market [76]. The results obtained from simulations help increase the company's knowledge. At the strategic level, it is an important tool for constantly seeking innovation and competitive advantage, reducing the costs and risks associated with these activities [77]. Research activity on the topic has grown over the years, as evidenced by the large number of articles in the scientific literature. A quick search conducted in the Scopus scientific library, shown in Figure 1, carried out with two keywords, \"Smart Manufacturing\" and \"DES\", returned more than one hundred articles published mainly from 2019 to the present. This has been an 85% increase from 2001, when the first publication was recorded.