This paper fully describes a simulation model of the radiant-plate hot smoking process, adapted to design optimization. A simulation model from previous work is improved with some features which mainly concern heat and mass transfers, pressure losses, drying air recycling and fish drying behavior. For the purpose of preliminary design, the industrial objectives of product quality, productivity and energy efficiency are mathematically expressed using performance indicators called observation variables. The simulating tool provides low calculation times and high rate of success. Within the domain of design variables, the model predicts the process behavior with coherency. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.