This paper focuses on coupling of simulation and optimization techniques, both representing an integrated part of modern design and supervision practices in management sciences, industry and engineering. After discussing the different possible connotations of the concept of simulation optimization coupling, we explicitly describe the integration of two commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) industry-standard software tools ARENA and CPLEX, respectively. Being written in the continuity of the earlier published work by Vamanan et al. (2004), the contribution of the present article is threefold: (i) elucidating the coupling of simulation and optimization, considered as two complementary decision helping approaches, (ii) explaining explicitly the software integration of the latest versions of ARENA and CPLEX, (iii) pointing out the undeniable usefulness of such tools tandem.