An Adaptive Simulation-based Decision-Making Framework for Small and Medium sized Enterprises

Abstract The rapid development of key mobile technology supporting the ‘Internet of Things’, such as 3G, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and Zigbee etc. and the advanced decision making methods have improved the Decision-Making System (DMS) significantly in the last decade. Advanced wireless technology can provide a real-time data collection to support DMS and the effective decision making techniques based on the real-time data can improve Supply Chain (SC) efficiency. However, it is difficult for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) to effectively adopt this technology because of the complexity of technology and methods, and the limited resources of SMEs. Consequently, a suitable DMS which can support effective decision making is required in the operation of SMEs in SCs. This thesis conducts research on developing an adaptive simulation-based DMS for SMEs in the manufacturing sector. This research is to help and support SMEs to improve their competitiveness by reducing costs, and reacting responsively, rapidly and effectively to the demands of customers. An adaptive developed framework is able to answer flexible ‘what-if’ questions by finding, optimising and comparing solutions under the different scenarios for supporting SME-managers to make efficient and effective decisions and more customer-driven enterprises. The proposed framework consists of simulation blocks separated by data filter and convert layers. A simulation block may include cell simulators, optimisation blocks, and databases. A cell simulator is able to provide an initial solution under a special scenario. An optimisation block is able to output a group of optimum solutions based on the initial solution for decision makers. A two-phase optimisation algorithm integrated Conflicted Key Points Optimisation (CKPO) and Dispatching Optimisation Algorithm (DOA) is proposed for the condition of Jm|STsi,b with Lot-Streaming (LS). The feature of the integrated optimisation algorithm is demonstrated using a UK-based manufacture case study. Each simulation block is a relatively independent unit separated by the relevant data layers. Thus SMEs are able to design their simulation blocks according to their requirements and constraints, such as small budgets, limited professional staff, etc. A simulation block can communicate to the relative simulation block by the relevant data filter and convert layers and this constructs a communication and information network to support DMSs of Supply Chains (SCs). Two case studies have been conducted to validate the proposed simulation framework. An SME which produces gifts in a SC is adopted to validate the Make To Stock (MTS) production strategy by a developed stock-driven simulation-based DMS. A schedule-driven simulation-based DMS is implemented for a UK-based manufacturing case study using the Make To Order (MTO) production strategy. The two simulation-based DMSs are able to provide various data to support management decision making depending on different scenarios

LIPIcs, Volume 244, ESA 2022, Complete Volume

LIPIcs, Volume 244, ESA 2022, Complete Volum

Fuelling the zero-emissions road freight of the future: routing of mobile fuellers

The future of zero-emissions road freight is closely tied to the sufficient availability of new and clean fuel options such as electricity and Hydrogen. In goods distribution using Electric Commercial Vehicles (ECVs) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCVs) a major challenge in the transition period would pertain to their limited autonomy and scarce and unevenly distributed refuelling stations. One viable solution to facilitate and speed up the adoption of ECVs/HFCVs by logistics, however, is to get the fuel to the point where it is needed (instead of diverting the route of delivery vehicles to refuelling stations) using "Mobile Fuellers (MFs)". These are mobile battery swapping/recharging vans or mobile Hydrogen fuellers that can travel to a running ECV/HFCV to provide the fuel they require to complete their delivery routes at a rendezvous time and space. In this presentation, new vehicle routing models will be presented for a third party company that provides MF services. In the proposed problem variant, the MF provider company receives routing plans of multiple customer companies and has to design routes for a fleet of capacitated MFs that have to synchronise their routes with the running vehicles to deliver the required amount of fuel on-the-fly. This presentation will discuss and compare several mathematical models based on different business models and collaborative logistics scenarios

XX Workshop de Investigadores en Ciencias de la Computación - WICC 2018 : Libro de actas

Actas del XX Workshop de Investigadores en Ciencias de la Computación (WICC 2018), realizado en Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura de la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, los dìas 26 y 27 de abril de 2018.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI