In order to improve a simulation system for representing actions of machining units of a machine tool, in particular actions in the machining of a workpiece, in accordance with a CNC machining program complex by means of at least one first visualization unit in the form of actions of virtual machining units of a virtual machine tool, comprising an action control, which has at least one first data processing unit, which establishes control commands for actions of the virtual machining units by a control program processing CNC blocks of the CNC machining program complex, and a visualization control, which has at least one second data processing unit, which represents actions of the virtual machining units on the first visualization unit by a visualization program on the basis of configuration data of a stored machine model and the control commands determined by the action control, in such a way that it can be operated more easily, it is proposed that the simulation system comprises an operating control with a third data processing unit, which operates the action control by an operating program, and that the operating program has a program management function, which transfers at least program parts of the CNC machining program complex in a workpiece-related manner from said CNC machining program complex stored in a memory of the third data processing unit to the action control for executing said program complex.