Manufacturing systems have become progressively complex and costly. Simulation is increasingly being used as an analysis and evaluation method in the design and operation of these systems. The practical use of simulation in the manufacturing environment has resulted in an increase in the number of available software tools for manufacturing simulation. This paper provides guidelines for selecting manufacturing simulation software according to the intended purpose of software use. The basic criteria to be examined in the software evaluation process are listed together with the level of their importance for particular types of users.