26,687 research outputs found
Modelling an End to End Supply Chain system Using Simulation
Within the current uncertain environment industries are predominantly faced with various challenges
resulting in greater need for skilled management and adequate technique as well as tools to manage
Supply Chains (SC) efficiently. Derived from this observation is the need to develop a generic/reusable
modelling framework that would allow firms to analyse their operational performance over time (Mackulak
and Lawrence 1998, Beamon and Chen 2001, Petrovic 2001, Lau et al. 2008, Khilwani et al. 2011, Cigollini et
al. 2014). However for this to be effectively managed the simulation modelling efforts should be directed
towards identifying the scope of the SC and the key processes performed between players.
Purpose: The research attempts to analyse trends in the field of supply chain modelling using simulation
and provide directions for future research by reviewing existing Operations Research/Operations
Management (OR/OM) literature. Structural and operational complexities as well as different business
processes within various industries are often limiting factors during modelling efforts. Successively, this
calls for the end to end (E2E) SC modelling framework where the generic processes, related policies and
techniques could be captured and supported by the powerful capabilities of simulation.
Research Approach: Following Mitroff’s (1974) scientific inquiry model and Sargent (2011) this research will
adopt simulation methodology and focus on systematic literature review in order to establish generic OR
processes and differentiate them from those which are specific to certain industries. The aim of the
research is provide a clear and informed overview of the existing literature in the area of supply chain
simulation. Therefore through a profound examination of the selected studies a conceptual model will be
design based on the selection of the most commonly used SC Processes and simulation techniques used
within those processes. The description of individual elements that make up SC processes (Hermann and
Pundoor 2006) will be defined using building blocks, which are also known as Process Categories.
Findings and Originality: This paper presents an E2E SC simulation conceptual model realised through
means of systematic literature review. Practitioners have adopted the term E2E SC while this is not
extensively featured within academic literature. The existing SC studies lack generality in regards to
capturing the entire SC within one methodological framework, which this study aims to address.
Research Impact: A systematic review of the supply chain and simulation literature takes an integrated and
holistic assessment of an E2E SC, from market-demand scenarios through order management and planning
processes, and on to manufacturing and physical distribution. Thus by providing significant advances in
understanding of the theory, methods used and applicability of supply chain simulation, this paper will
further develop a body of knowledge within this subject area.
Practical Impact: The paper will empower practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of the supply chain
processes characteristics that can be modelled using simulation. Moreover it will facilitate a selection of
specific data required for the simulation in accordance to the individual needs of the industry
Recommended from our members
A survey of simulation techniques in commerce and defence
Despite the developments in Modelling and Simulation (M&S) tools and techniques over the past years, there has been a gap in the M&S research and practice in healthcare on developing a toolkit to assist the modellers and simulation practitioners with selecting an appropriate set of techniques. This study is a preliminary step towards this goal. This paper presents some results from a systematic literature survey on applications of M&S in the commerce and defence domains that could inspire some improvements in the healthcare. Interim results show that in the commercial sector Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) has been the most widely used technique with System Dynamics (SD) in second place. However in the defence sector, SD has gained relatively more attention. SD has been found quite useful for qualitative and soft factors analysis. From both the surveys it becomes clear that there is a growing trend towards using hybrid M&S approaches
An integrated approach to supply chain risk analysis
Despite the increasing attention that supply chain risk management is receiving by both researchers and practitioners, companies still lack a risk culture. Moreover, risk management approaches are either too general or require pieces of information not regularly recorded by organisations. This work develops a risk identification and analysis methodology that integrates widely adopted supply chain and risk management tools. In particular, process analysis is performed by means of the standard framework provided by the Supply Chain Operations Reference Model, the risk identification and analysis tasks are accomplished by applying the Risk Breakdown Structure and the Risk Breakdown Matrix, and the effects of risk occurrence on activities are assessed by indicators that are already measured by companies in order to monitor their performances. In such a way, the framework contributes to increase companies' awareness and communication about risk, which are essential components of the management of modern supply chains. A base case has been developed by applying the proposed approach to a hypothetical manufacturing supply chain. An in-depth validation will be carried out to improve the methodology and further demonstrate its benefits and limitations. Future research will extend the framework to include the understanding of the multiple effects of risky events on different processe
VR-PMS: a new approach for performance measurement and management of industrial systems
A new performance measurement and management framework based on value and risk is proposed. The proposed framework is applied to the modelling and evaluation of the a priori performance evaluation of manufacturing processes and to deciding on their alternatives. For this reason, it consistently integrates concepts relevant to objectives, activity, and risk in a single framework comprising a conceptual value/risk model, and it conceptualises the idea of value- and risk based performance management in a process context. In addition, a methodological framework is developed to provide guidelines for the decision-makers or performance evaluators of the processes. To facilitate the performance measurement and management process, this latter framework is organized in four phases: context establishment, performance modelling, performance assessment, and decision-making. Each phase of the framework is then instrumented with state of-the-art quantitative analysis tools and methods. For process design and evaluation, the deliverable of the value- and risk-based performance measurement and management system (VR-PMS) is a set of ranked solutions (i.e. alternative business processes) evaluated against the developed value and risk indicators. The proposed VR-PMS is illustrated with a case study from discrete parts manufacturing but is indeed applicable to a wide range of processes or systems
Global supply chains of high value low volume products
Imperial Users onl
Visual analytics for supply network management: system design and evaluation
We propose a visual analytic system to augment and enhance decision-making processes of supply chain managers. Several design requirements drive the development of our integrated architecture and lead to three primary capabilities of our system prototype. First, a visual analytic system must integrate various relevant views and perspectives that highlight different structural aspects of a supply network. Second, the system must deliver required information on-demand and update the visual representation via user-initiated interactions. Third, the system must provide both descriptive and predictive analytic functions for managers to gain contingency intelligence. Based on these capabilities we implement an interactive web-based visual analytic system. Our system enables managers to interactively apply visual encodings based on different node and edge attributes to facilitate mental map matching between abstract attributes and visual elements. Grounded in cognitive fit theory, we demonstrate that an interactive visual system that dynamically adjusts visual representations to the decision environment can significantly enhance decision-making processes in a supply network setting. We conduct multi-stage evaluation sessions with prototypical users that collectively confirm the value of our system. Our results indicate a positive reaction to our system. We conclude with implications and future research opportunities.The authors would like to thank the participants of the 2015 Businessvis Workshop at IEEE VIS, Prof. Benoit Montreuil, and Dr. Driss Hakimi for their valuable feedback on an earlier version of the software; Prof. Manpreet Hora for assisting with and Georgia Tech graduate students for participating in the evaluation sessions; and the two anonymous reviewers for their detailed comments and suggestions. The study was in part supported by the Tennenbaum Institute at Georgia Tech Award # K9305. (K9305 - Tennenbaum Institute at Georgia Tech Award)Accepted manuscrip
- …