For many practical and industrial optimization problems where some or all of the system components are stochastic, the objective functions cannot be represented analytically. Therefore, modeling by computer simulation is one of the most effective means of studying such complex systems. In this paper, with discussion of simulation optimization techniques, a case study in machining process for application of simulation optimization is presented. Most of optimization techniques can be classified as single-or multiple-response techniques. The optimization of single-response category, these strategies are gradient based search methods, stochastic approximate method, response surface method, and heuristic search methods. In the multiple-response category, there are basically five distinct strategies for treating the responses and finding the optimum solution. These strategies are graphical method, direct search method, constrained optimization, unconstrained optimization, and goal programming methods. The choice of the procedure to employ in simulation optimization depends on the analyst and the problem to be solved.