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Supply chain
management simulation
Supply chains have an inherently dynamic character, actors are
operating in parallel, and influence each other and change in time. Many
modeling techniques do not perform well enough when describing and
designing chaotic and dynamic environments like supply chains. Simulation
can be seen as an approach, with help of modeling techniques, to overcome
these problems.
Within supply chains, there was and is, a shift from
traditional (rigid) supply chains towards a more dynamic situation.
Eye-catching developments are:
- a shift from a linear supply chain towards a
supply chain with parallel processes;
- the availability of information (information
for orders, stock, production processes, et cetera) beyond the next
partner in the chain;
- availability of real-time information;
- a shift from stable long-term contracts towards a new contract,
perhaps with different actors involved, for every product.
Due to these developments, there was and is a need apparent
for new and different types of simulation models for demonstration and
learning integrated into decision making tools. In a joint research
project of the section of Systems Engineering and the Robert H. Smith
School of Business, Corver and van der Hee developed an object model for
supply chains [Corver et al, 2002], which is used as the basis for the
games and simulations shown here.
Literature
Corver, A., A. Verbraeck, E. Valentin, S. Boyson,
T. Corsi; A Supply chain Reference Model - An object oriented model for
simulation and proof of concept in eM-plant. Internal report, Technische
Universiteit Delft, Faculteit TBM, Delft, The Netherlands, 2002, 92 p.
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