Object-oriented dynamic supply-chain modelling incorporated with production scheduling

In this paper we present a new modelling approach for realistic simulation of supply-chains. It is based on an object-oriented architecture, which enables flexible specification of the supply-chain configuration along with its operational decisions and policies.A model of a generic supply-chain node is developed to capture the features present in all supply-chain entities. The generic node models in detail activities such as inventory control, manufacturing processes and order handling. The supply-chain model is constructed by linking generic nodes and specifying the physical and business attributes of each supply-chain member. The generic-node model may also be linked to external software for greater accuracy, e.g., detailed production scheduling or optimisation.The model provides a fully dynamic simulation of the supply-chain and the effect of various uncertainties can be evaluated through Monte Carlo simulation and other, more efficient, sampling techniques (not described here).A case study is presented to illustrate the applicability of the model. The case study demonstrates how the effect of policy changes on the supply-chain performance under uncertainty can be evaluated before implementation.