Web-services-based supply-chain-control logic: an automotive case study

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a decision-support software system based on web services, capable of modelling the supply chain and querying the supply-chain partners to provide information, regarding the availability of parts, required for the production of a highly customisable product. Furthermore, it describes the details of a software system for the evaluation of time and financial feasibility of acquiring the necessary parts in order for the customised product to be built. The feasibility of implementing this approach is demonstrated in a typical automotive case study. The system is capable of simulating the customer's orders impact on the supply-chain operation, while it utilises the Web services technology for facilitating the supply-chain control logic.