Key words
simulation, supply chain management, multi-agent systems, inventory level.
articles
Multi-agent based simulation of supply chain dynamics
The concept of supply chain management is based on the idea that coordinating the activity of supply
chain members will reduce costs and increase the satisfaction of end-customers. It assumes that
supply chain members should not compete with each other, they should compete with other supply
chains. The supply chain can be described as a complex system hence it’s become complicated to analyze
how one or another action will effect on the supply chain. Simulation of supply chains is used
for understanding and predicting systems behavior. One of the possible solutions to implement a simulation
of such complex system as supply chain based on usage of multi-agent systems. Multi-agents
due to distributed nature are well suited for modeling interaction of supply chain members. The usage
of multi-agent systems in the simulation aimed at a creation of some system that simulates the
execution of a real world scenario. This paper presents a model for multi-agent supply chain simulation.
Agents of the multi-agent system in proposed model are represented supply chain members, like
suppliers, producers, distributors, retailers. Each agent gets materials or goods from upstream supply
chain node and sends goods to the downstream node. It calculates current inventory level. Supply
chain performance in proposed model is measured by a profit of supply chain members. This model
can be reused multiple times for measuring how changes in supply chain member’ behavior will result
in the whole supply chain.
The author:
Botvin G.
Degree:
PhD in Technique, Professor, Saint-Petersburg State University
Location:
Saint-Petersburg
All articles:
The author:
Belykh D.
Degree:
Postgraduate student, Saint-Petersburg State University
Location:
Saint-Petersburg
