Supply chain modelling and managing,using timed coloured Petri nets: a case study

This paper aims at developing a new methodology for designing and managing a supply chain (SC) and, at the same time, for evaluating the performance of every stakeholder involved in a production chain. The methodology proposed has been applied to a footwear supply chain and is based on coloured Petri nets (CPNs). The supply chain analysed in this paper is a complex production system consisting of a network of manufacturers and service suppliers related to logistics systems that provide transportation and storage. The model developed uses coloured, timed Petri nets to represent a supply chain and it is such that resources are the Petri Net (PN) places, the tokens are jobs, orders and/or products, while the colours represent job attributes. These colours are used to encode different data types and values that are attached to tokens. A “coloured token” represents a specific production order or a certain amount of a particular material supplied. Thus, it can be processed in different ways and it can be easily localised within the CPN model. The use of coloured Petri nets allows companies to create a compact representation of states, actions and events of the modelled system. The particular structure of this network allows the designers the easy realisation of a simulator using an “object-oriented”, dedicated programming, which is a useful tool for developing what-if analyses.     

From waste to value – a system dynamics model for strategic decision-making in closed-loop supply chains

Although the field of closed-loop supply chain management has attracted a lot of attention in recent years and the management of reverse logistics processes has become a major field of supply chain management, there is still a lack of research conducting analyses using a comprehensive approach that takes the complexity of problems of reverse logistics processes into account. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to develop a model that allows an original equipment manufacturer in the electronics industry to test different value recovery strategies for business-to-business products in a closed-loop supply chain setting. For this purpose system dynamics is used because this approach enables one to capture the high complexity of reverse logistics processes and is suitable, contrary to traditional optimisation approaches, for analysing the dynamic behaviour of closed-loop supply chains comprehensively. The simulation analysis identifies leverage points for the improvement of decisions concerning reverse logistics. In particular, the simulation runs conducted highlight the high complexity and connectivity inherited with various value recovery processes. The paper contributes to a better understanding of supply chain dynamics, the impact of product backflow, and reverse logistics.     

Supply chain cell activities for a consumer goods company

The supply chain cell is a new cross-functional area in many industries in India. It involves the integration of production planning, dispatch order generation and logistics planning, apart from general logistics, which primarily includes distribution. This paper deals with the study conducted for a fast moving consumer goods company having 14 production locations and 22 branches/clearing and forwarding agents. There were 36 packing lines, with each line packing different varieties of stock-keeping units. In this company, supply chain cell activities were concentrated on the middle of the classical supply chain. An attempt has been made to integrate production logic with the logistics by considering the total cost concept. The total cost concept also includes non-quantifiable parameters, which have been incorporated by the use of the analytical hierarchy process. An optimization technique has been proposed simultaneously to support the planning logic developed. The supply chain cell helps to optimize the total supply chain cost as well as enabling it to supplement other benefits such as an improvement in inventory turnover and a reduction in the inventory carrying cost.     

生鲜食品的品质动力学模型研究综述

目的 研究生鲜食品品质动力学模型的方向。方法 归纳整理国内外生鲜肉、 生鲜鱼、 蔬菜、 水果及其冷链物流过程中的品质动力学模型相关文献, 并进行比较分析。结论 在生鲜食品品质下降过程中, 各种品质特性的变化速率是不一样的, 但是对于某一种特定的生鲜食品而言, 总可以通过一些关键指标 （如微生物菌落总数、 硬度、 维生素C、 叶绿素等） 建立品质动力学模型, 品质变化速率一般遵循Arrhenius关系式。肉类、 鱼类等动物性食品的品质动力学模型遵循一级反应方程式, 而果蔬等植物性食品的品质动力学模型一般遵循零级反应方程式, 由于其要考虑的因素和检测的指标更多, 所以品质动力学模型趋于多样化。将食品品质动力学模型应用于冷链物流管理是一个新兴的研究领域, 由此建立一些简明的、 能够满足物流需求的品质动力学模型和指标亟待解决。     

Global supply chain management: A reinforcement learning approach

In recent years, researchers and practitioners alike have devoted a great deal of attention to supply chain management (SCM). The main focus of SCM is the need to integrate operations along the supply chain as part of an overall logistic support function. At the same time, the need for globalization requires that the solution of SCM problems be performed in an international context as part of what we refer to as Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM). This paper proposes an approach to study GSCM problems using an artificial intelligence framework called reinforcement learning (RL). The RL framework allows the management of global supply chains under an integration perspective. The RL approach has remarkable similarities to that of an autonomous agent network (AAN); a similarity that we shall discuss. The RL approach is applied to a case example, namely a networked production system that spans several geographic areas and logistics stages. We discuss the results and provide guidelines and implications for practical applications.     

物流信息能力对供应链绩效影响的实证研究

构建了物流信息能力、配送能力和柔性能力与供应链服务质量、响应性和财务绩效的关系模型,利用结构方程模型进行了检验.研究结果表明,物流信息能力对供应链绩效没有直接影响,但是可以通过配送能力和柔性能力的影响,而影响供应链服务质量以及最终的财务绩效,而且物流信息能力还通过显著影响配送能力极大地影响了供应链的响应性.     

A multi-agent system for chemical supply chain simulation and management support

Modern chemical production is customer-driven and the desired delivery time for the products is often shorter than their campaign length. In addition, the raw materials supplying time is often long. These features make it desirable to provide tools to support collaborative supply chain decision making, preferably over the Internet, and where there are conflicts, compromise decisions can be quickly reached and the effects of the decisions can be quantitatively simulated. This paper des cribes such a multi-agent system (MAS) that can be used to simulate the dynamic behaviour and support the management of chemical supply chains over the Internet. Geographically distributed retailers, logistics, warehouses, plants and raw material suppliers are modelled as an open and re-configurable network of co-operative agents, each performing one or more supply chain functions. Communication between agents is made through the common agent communication language KQML (knowledge query message language). A t the simulation layer, the MAS allows distributed simulation of the chain behaviour dynamically, so that compromise decisions can be rapidly and quantitatively evaluated. Because in a chemical supply chain the scheduling of the plant often dominates the chain performance, an optimum scheduling system for batch plants is integrated into the MAS. The functions of the system are illustrated by reference to a case study for the supply and manufacture using a multi-purpose batch plant of paints and coatings.     

物流包装设计与创新分析

分析了物流包装对于企业供应链的重要性,通过具体案例对物流包装的创新设计对企业供应链所产生的影响进行了系统的分析,包括对供应链各层级成员的影响以及对企业物流系统本身所产生的影响。分析可知,物流包装的创新与使用必须要经过系统的评估,并且要与企业供应链的结构特征相吻合,才能发挥其最大效用,提高供应链的整体绩效。     

基于智能物流的供应链包装系统集成分析

目的研究物流智能化发展背景下的供应链包装系统集成解决方案。方法从阐释物流智能化的目标和供应链包装在智能物流过程中的效能开始,分析两者之间的联系和契合点;探讨物流的智能化发展赋予供应链包装的新内涵,以及对供应链包装系统的新要求;最后针对物流智能化的特点和目标,研究提出由包装设计与防护、物联网技术、绿色材料科学以及供应链管理等方面关键技术组成的供应链包装系统集成解决方案。结论作为物流信息携带和物流作业主体的包装系统是物流智能化重要的组成环节,供应链包装与物流智能化发展应互为依存与促进。     

基于供应链节点和线路的物流能力核算方法研究

从供应链的角度研究物流能力定量核算的方法.以汽车行业供应链为背景,建立核算供应链物流能力的模型,以供应链节点和线路能力为约束,分供应物流、生产物流和分销物流3个阶段核算供应链系统的物流能力,得出了以单位时间内流出供应链产品数量表示的供应链物流能力,提出了供应链物流能力优化的两个基本原则:一是识别并消除瓶颈环节,并给出了识别瓶颈环节的定量方法;二是保持供应链各环节物流能力的协调一致.     

A multi-agent architecture for reverse logistics in a green supply chain

Green supply chain issues have attracted a lot of attention in recent years with growing awareness of environmental concerns. This has drawn the considerable world-wide attention of academics and practitioners. Therefore, recycling has now become an integral component of the supply chain. Recycling of used products and the related logistics management pose a significant challenge to manufacturing industries. In order to resolve the complexity of the task, this study proposes a multi-agent architecture to handle recycling and reverse logistics issues, which have so far been neglected. It addresses the different aspects of recycling such as waste classification, recycling, logistics and reuse of products. Additionally, it also discusses how the agent communicates and acts autonomously to facilitate the efficient logistics of materials between different units. The proposed agent architecture can assist manufacturing industries in efficiently managing their green supply chain system and complex logistics issues.     

基于灰色回归模型广州市果蔬类生鲜农产品冷链物流需求预测

目的 通过对不同预测方法的误差进行对比研究,选取预测精度较高的方法,促进部门科学化决策。方法 从农产品供给、社会经济水平、冷链物流保障、居民规模与消费能力四大维度选取15个指标来构建影响因素指标体系,对影响因素与冷链物流需求进行灰色关联度分析。采用GM(1,1)、GM(1,6)与主成分-多元回归线性模型对果蔬类生鲜农产品冷链物流需求进行预测。结果 GM(1,1)预测模型、GM(1,6)预测模型、主成分-多元回归线性预测模型的预测误差分别为2.97%、1.70%、2.53%。结论 GM(1,6)预测模型预测精度最高,该模型适用于中短期的冷链物流需求预测,具有较高的应用价值。     

基于物流服务提供商的敏捷供应链的集成

分析了目前供应链在集成物流与信息流等方面存在的一些问题,提出了一种基于物流服务提供商提供的物流服务进行供应商、制造商与分销商集成的策略。通过物流服务提供商的信息服务平台的应用结构,分析了网络与信息技术下物流服务提供商进入供应链的切入方案。探讨了物流服务提供商在供应链协调中应具有的作用及供应链的集成方式。论述了物流服务提供商在供应链构建中的作用与实施步骤,并借助于网络与信息技术,研究了物流服务提供商在信息交互与共享。以及基于物流活动信息在网络通信与协作的基础上实现制造商、供应商及分销商集成的方法。     

信息流分离点与物流分离点相结合的物流敏捷性研究

研究了物流分离点和信息流分离点在供应链上的定位对整个供应链响应时间压缩和敏捷性的影响.将信息流研究和物流运作有效结合起来,提出了两种分离点定位相结合的敏捷物流模式.该模式通过合理设置物流、信息流分离点,整合物流运作中三类信息流,消除物流运作中非增值环节,压缩非增值时间,提高整个供应链物流运作的敏捷性,提升企业供应链在基于时间竞争下的竞争力.     

A comparison of supply chain vulnerability indices for different categories of firms

Given the high vulnerability of today's supply chains to disruptions, measuring and managing supply chain vulnerability has become critical. In the attempt to support practice in reducing supply chain vulnerability, we (1) discuss and define the concept of supply chain vulnerability and (2) measure and compare supply chain vulnerability for various categories of firms. Normal Accident Theory and High Reliability Theory provide the theoretical foundations for the empirical study, and graph modelling is the method used to construct a measure for supply chain vulnerability. The empirical data largely confirm that there is a negative relationship between supply chain vulnerability and supply chain performance, a positive relationship between structural categories (firm size and production type) and supply chain vulnerability, and a positive relationship between supply chain vulnerability and managerial categories (logistics importance, supply chain risk planning, and supply chain risk management).     

考虑通关水平的跨境物流服务供应链契约协调机制研究

为实现跨境物流服务供应链完全协调,运用Stackelberg博弈理论,构建由一个跨境物流服务供应商与一个物流服务集成商组成的二级供应链。采用因子分析法测度通关水平,分析通关水平对跨境物流服务供应链最优决策及协调运作的影响,设计可供跨境物流服务供应链完美协调的契约机制。研究表明,考虑通关水平使跨境物流服务供应链成员及供应链整体利润均得到提升;集中决策下跨境物流服务供应链整体利润总是高于分散决策;收益共享契约可实现跨境物流服务供应商及供应链整体决策的帕累托优化,但不能达到供应链的完全协调,而Nash协商改进的二部定价契约模型可实现供应链的完全协调。     

Understanding supply chain management: critical research and a theoretical framework

Increasing global cooperation, vertical disintegration and a focus on core activities have led to the notion that firms are links in a networked supply chain. This strategic viewpoint has created the challenge of coordinating effectively the entire supply chain, from upstream to downstream activities. While supply chains have existed ever since businesses have been organized to bring products and services to customers, the notion of their competitive advantage, and consequently supply chain management (SCM), is a relatively recent thinking in management literature. Although research interests in and the importance of SCM are growing, scholarly materials remain scattered and disjointed, and no research has been directed towards a systematic identification of the core initiatives and constructs involved in SCM. Thus, the purpose of this study is to develop a research framework that improves understanding of SCM and stimulates and facilitates researchers to undertake both theoretical and empirical investigation on the critical constructs of SCM, and the exploration of their impacts on supply chain performance. To this end, we analyse over 400 articles and synthesize the large, fragmented body of work dispersed across many disciplines such as purchasing and supply, logistics and transportation, marketing, organizational dynamics, information management, strategic management, and operations management literature.     

Making sense of transient responses in simulation studies

Traditional simulation modelling focuses upon the analysis of steady-state data. This focus may not be appropriate, however, for the study of transient responses – data reflecting some form of disruption or change in the system norms. Transient responses are often encountered when dealing with new product introductions, changes in production systems, or supply chain disruptions. In these situations, it is the transient response, how the system responds to these changes as well as the tactics and strategies used to deal with these changes, that tend to be of the greatest interest. Unfortunately, current approaches that focus on analysing such responses are limited. This paper introduces a new approach for analysing transient responses – one that merges outlier detection, a time series analysis tool, with simulation modelling. This combined approach allows the researcher to identify those factors that have the greatest impact upon operations during these transient conditions. Using a simulated supply chain disruption to illustrate the potential of the approach, it is shown that the new approach expands the applicability of simulation and enables certain types of problems to be investigated with confidence not previously provided.     

Integrating reverse logistics into the strategic planning of a supply chain

This paper proposes a mixed-integer programming (MIP) model for the strategic production and distribution planning of a supply chain (SC) integrating reverse logistics system. Such reverse logistics planning addresses the collection, recovery and marketing of recovered products, in addition to returned components and packing/wrapping materials. The model includes an approach that uses retail outlets as a two-way channel for marketing new products, collecting used/returned products and remarketing recovered products as a way of promoting an effective product recovery system in SC operation and optimising costs. The recovery of products/components is planned through a pool of recovery service providers (RSPs), so that maximum recovery can be ensured through combining the expertise of RSPs within optimum costs. The model follows a two-step process that addresses strategic decisions about product recovery in the first step, and the integration of the recovery process into overall SC decisions in the final step. A numerical example illustrates the applicability of the model. A sensitivity analysis has been conducted to show the effects that changes in the recovered product quantity have on the overall SC performance.