An agent-based framework for collaborative negotiation in the global manufacturing supply chain network

This paper applies the multi-agent system paradigm to collaborative negotiation in a global manufacturing supply chain network. Multi-agent computational environments are suitable for dealing with a broad class of coordination and negotiation issues involving multiple autonomous or semiautonomous problem solving agents. An agent-based multi-contract negotiation system is proposed for global manufacturing supply chain coordination. Also reported is a case study of mobile phone global manufacturing supply chain management.     

An integrated framework for the development of radio frequency identification technology in the logistics and supply chain management

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) features high storage capacity, remote access, excellent data security, and multiple-tag reading. Hence, RFID technology attracts attention from various industries, especially the logistics and retail industries. Due to the swift development of technology and the trend of globalization, the logistics managers are assigned the task to integrate the supply chain via information technology such as RFID. The goal is to achieve information sharing and reduction of total cost, thus the operation efficiency can be improved and competitive advantage can be enhanced. Thus, this research would first identify the key factors of RFID technology development in the logistics and supply chain management. A complete set of five dimensions and 24 factors with a hierarchy structure is presented. The Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process methods are adopted for analysis. A structural procedure of RFID system establishment is also constructed based on the key dimensions and factors, with the expectation of establishing the RFID system in an effective and efficient manner. Then, based on the experience of Taiwanese government and industry, the sequence of companies for adopting the RFID technology is discussed. Thus, an integrated framework for the development of RFID technology, which includes the hierarchy of factors, structural procedure, and sequence of adoption, is presented in this research; and it can be applied in other scenarios after the users make some modifications according to their specific needs.     

面向制造业产业链的集成体系框架研究

针对面向制造业产业链协同的实际需要,在分析了企业群产业链之间合作特点的基础上,构建了产业链协同模型、企业群集成管理模型,提出了面向产业链的集成服务平台框架.该框架实现了在企业群模式下各业务系统的松耦合集成,通过在支持多核网状式企业群协作的售后服务管理系统的开发和实施中的应用,验证了所提供平台模型的可行性和有效性.     

Collaborative design and analysis of supply chain network management key processes model

This study focuses on collaboratively designing a structured and comprehensive supply chain (SC) network management key processes model and analyzing the relative importance of these key processes for semiconductor industry. The collaborative design and analysis are performed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of over 20 members from both academia and industry. This research is based on experiences of these team members who joined a successful e-SCM project, used as a case study in this research, between the world's largest semiconductor foundry and the world's largest assembly and testing service provider. This study adopts focus group methodology for collaborative design and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) for collaborative analysis. The result of the design is a structured and comprehensive key processes model consisting of four dimensions: strategy and planning, manufacturing, logistics, and risk management (SMLR) with a total of 15 key processes included in these four dimensions. The resulting weightings from FAHP analysis can identify the most critical one dimension and four key processes since they account for approximately half of the overall weighting in their level. The SMLR model provides a structured and comprehensive reference model for future SC network management project executives, ensuring that all key processes are supported to avoid extremely costly failure. The resulting weightings provide these managers with the relative importance of these key processes and can help them make critical decisions in allocating limited resources to support the most critical processes. To confirm the results and further explore the managerial implications, a second session of focus group meeting was conducted and practices of the top three key processes in the semiconductor manufacturing industry were used to illustrate what actions can be performed to improve these processes and hence benefit the entire SC network. The research results can serve as a foundation for related academic researches.     

A decision framework for the analysis of green supply chain contracts: An evolutionary game approach

The overwhelming growth in the struggle between economy and ecology has led managerial research to promote methodologies to reap profits ensuring sustainability of the ecosystem thus venturing into the novel domain incorporating sustainability with supply chain management and coordination. In this paper, we look for a synergetic alliance between the environmental and commercial benefits by establishing coordination between the producer and the retailer to adjudicate their strategies to trigger green practices with the focus on maximizing economic profits by leveraging upon the product’s greenness. A two player game has been developed to stand synonymous to the situation considered. Special considerations have been devised to augment the analysis with the consumer psychology towards the green products to establish a practical outlook involving the greenness and economic returns. Evolutionary dynamics has been adopted extensively to locate the optimal and the most stable point offering the best economic gains. The economically suitable solutions are then substantiated on an existing sustainability metric and hence we aim to offer a holistic view into supply chain dynamics from the perspective of environmental management. The insights drawn provide managerial implications and advantages of having environment as a key focus along with business motives.     

An agent-based approach for e-manufacturing and supply chain integration

A major problem facing manufacturing organisations is how to provide efficient and cost-effective responses to the unpredictable changes taking place in a global market. This problem is made difficult by the complexity of supply chain networks coupled with the complexity of individual manufacturing systems within supply chains. Current systems such as manufacturing execution systems (MES), supply chain management (SCM) systems and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems do not provide adequate facilities for addressing this problem. This paper presents an approach that would enable manufacturing organisations to dynamically and cost-effectively integrate, optimise, configure, simulate, restructure and control not only their own manufacturing systems but also their supply networks, in a co-ordinated manner to cope with the dynamic changes occurring in a global market. This is realised by a synergy of two emerging manufacturing concepts: Agent-based agile manufacturing systems and e-manufacturing. The concept is to represent a complex manufacturing system and its supply network with an agent-based modelling and simulation architecture and to dynamically generate alternative scenarios with respect to planning, scheduling, configuration and restructure of both the manufacturing system and its supply network based on the coordinated interactions amongst agents.     

Planning tools for managing the supply chain

In this paper, we introduce a new way to manage the supply chain. The proposed solution reduces the problem's complexity using a two-stage hierarchical production planning method and is applicable to realistic transportation optimization problems. The approach is based on planning and operations scheduling models, and is designed to minimize travel and production costs within a flexible organizational network. In the aggregate planning phase, a mathematical model involving an aggregation of products, demand and time periods is solved. It is at this initial stage that the size of the problem is reduced and its output is used as input to the detailed phase in order to improve resolution time. The second stage produces a detailed schedule. It is shown that the proposed approach generates good and feasible solutions to practical problems within a reasonable computational time.     

Towards a framework of critical success factors for implementing supply chain information systems

Supply chain information systems (SCISs) have emerged as the core of successful management in supply chains. However, the difficulties of SCIS implementations have been widely cited in the literature. Research on the critical success factors (CSFs) for SCIS implementation is rather scarce and fragmented. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to compile a framework of CSFs for implementing SCISs. Based on 10 key articles focusing on ERP implementations, we have built a list of critical success factors as a starting point for the SCIS literature search. Thereafter, based on 21 SCIS articles, CSFs for supply chain information system implementation have been defined. The analysis showed that some CSFs have been ignored and important supply chain characteristics have been overlooked. Moreover, it is not always easy for project managers to know how to implement and apply CSFs in practice.     

Knowledge management in supply chain: An empirical study from France

Supply chain management has assumed a leading operations strategy position in both manufacturing and service industries, and over the past 10 years companies have seriously implemented supply chain management strategies in their organizations. Knowledge management (KM) is a major enabler of supply chain management, and is a critical element in information intensive and multi-cultured enterprise environments. Realizing the importance of knowledge management in supply chain (SC), an attempt has been made in this paper to propose a conceptual framework for KM in SC and to validate the framework with help of an empirical study conducted with French companies. Finally, a summary of findings and conclusions is presented for KM in SC.     

Secure sharing of big digital twin data for smart manufacturing based on blockchain

With the rapid development of digital twin technology, a large amount of digital twin data named as big digital twin data (BDTD), is generated in the lifecycle of equipment, which is supposed to be used in digital twin enabled applications. However, in the implementation of these applications, data sharing problem which is caused by the lack of data security as well as trust among stakeholders of equipment, limits data using value. It is a novel way to introduce blockchain technology into digital twin to solve the problem. However, current methods cannot fulfill the requirements of exponential growth and timely sharing of BDTD. Therefore, a blockchain-based framework for secure sharing of BDTD is proposed to solve the problems. Cloud storage is integrated into the framework, with which, BDTD is encrypted and stored in Cloud, while the hash of BDTD and transaction records are stored in blockchain. Some rules of generating new block are designed to improve the processing speed of blockchain. An algorithm for optimal sampling rate selection is presented to maximize total social benefits of the participants of BDTD sharing. Simulation results show that the algorithm is better than traditional method for maximizing the total social benefits. Furthermore, a protype system is developed and evaluated based on Fabric test network. Evaluation results show that BDTD can be shared securely multiple times per second through the framework, which demonstrates the feasibility of the framework in supporting timely sharing of BDTD.     

An integrated approach for sustainable supply chain planning

This paper proposes an integrated approach for transposing sustainable development principles to supply chain planning models. Inspired by research on performance measurement, we designed a method that links sustainability performance to supply chain decisions, and allows setting coherent performance measures. By transposing this method to a multi-objective mathematical programming, the supply chain planning is optimized while the economic, environmental and social performances are all coherently integrated into the model. To illustrate our approach, we applied it to a Canadian lumber industry case. We solved the mathematical model by using the weighted goal programming technique, which results in a set of “compromise” solutions allowing the decision maker to choose the alternative that reflects the balance he/she wishes to make regarding the three dimensions of sustainability.     

Design of agile supply chain assessment model and its case study in an Indian automotive components manufacturing organization

Agile Manufacturing (AM) paradigm is fast instilled in modern organizations. AM enables an organization to evolve products and services quickly and economically in response to the customers’ dynamic demands. The effectiveness of AM is largely determined by the performance of Agile Supply Chains (ASC). In order to assess their performance, an ASC assessment model was reported in this research paper. This model is encompassed with agile supply chain attributes whose performance levels need to be determined for assessing the overall ASC performance of the organization. The computation was performed using fuzzy logic approach. The working of this model was examined by conducting a case study in an Indian automotive components manufacturing organization. The experience gained by conducting this case study favored the use of a computerized system which will ensure accuracy of computations involving fuzzy logic.     

The antecedent factors on trust and commitment in supply chain relationships

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the role of information sharing, information quality, and information availability in the development of trust and commitment in supply chain relationships. Samples were gathered in Taiwan and Canada using a field questionnaire. Multiple regression and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. It was found that there is a positive relationship between the level of quality, and availability, and the level of trust; information sharing and commitment. Additionally, results revealed that country moderates the relationship between information sharing and trust.     

Additive manufacturing in the spare parts supply chain

As additive manufacturing (AM) evolves to become a common method of producing final parts, further study of this computer integrated technology is necessary. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the potential impact of additive manufacturing improvements on the configuration of spare parts supply chains. This goal has been accomplished through scenario modeling of a real-life spare parts supply chain in the aeronautics industry. The spare parts supply chain of the F-18 Super Hornet fighter jet was selected as the case study because the air-cooling ducts of the environmental control system are produced using AM technology. In total, four scenarios are investigated that vary the supply chain configurations and additive manufacturing machine specifications. The reference scenario is based on the spare parts supplier's current practice and the possible future decentralization of production and likely improvements in AM technology. Total operating cost, including downtime cost, is used to compare the scenarios. We found that using current AM technology, centralized production is clearly the preferable supply chain configuration in the case example. However, distributed spare parts production becomes practical as AM machines become less capital intensive, more autonomous and offer shorter production cycles. This investigation provides guidance for the development of additive manufacturing machines and their possible deployment in spare parts supply chains. This study contributes to the emerging literature on AM deployment in supply chains with a real-world case setting and scenario model illustrating the cost trade-offs and critical requirements for technology development.     

Evolutionary game-based incentive models for sustainable trust enhancement in a blockchained shared manufacturing network

Shared manufacturing (SM) is an advanced manufacturing mode to solve the problems of information asymmetry and resource imbalance in the complex supply and demand relationship under the background of mass personalization. Blockchain can provide technical solutions for trust issues between manufacturing service providers and demanders, but less research has focused on the stable maintenance of a blockchained shared manufacturing network (BSMN). Industrial knowledge graph and cognitive intelligence play an important role in designing incentive mechanisms for BSMN. Based on the evolutionary game theory, this paper designs various incentive models and develops the corresponding smart contracts to encourage different enterprises to participate in the “accounting” operations, to enhance the trust and maintain the operational stability of BSMN. Firstly, the evolution mechanism of BSMN was analyzed. Then, an evolutionary game model between shared manufacturing enterprise nodes was established to deduce the stable state of BSMN. Based on the analysis of the evolutionarily stable state, an incentive model with three strategies to encourage different enterprise nodes to participate in “accounting” operations was determined, and smart contracts of the incentive models were developed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed incentive models was verified by simulation experiments.     

A system dynamics framework for integrated reverse supply chain with three way recovery and product exchange policy

With the technological advancements and rapid changes in demand pattern, diverse ranges of products are entering into the market with reduced lifecycle which leads to the environmental disasters. The awareness of product take-back and recovery has been increasing in various supply chains not only due to the obligation imposed by legislation but also competitive economics worldwide. In this paper, we develop a system dynamics framework for a closed-loop supply chain network with product exchange and three way recovery policy, namely; product remanufacturing, component reuse and remanufacturing, and raw material recovery. In the simulation study, we investigate the significance of various factors including product exchange, collection and remanufacturing; their interactions and the type of their impact on bullwhip and profitability through sensitivity and statistical analysis. Our results suggest that the inclusion of three way recovery in reverse channel and product exchange policy in the forward channel reduce the order variation and bullwhip effect at both retailer and distributor level and increases the profitability of RL operations. In addition, we redefine the reverse logistics framework with “open-loop” in which the remanufactured products are redistributed only in the secondary market and compare the performance of open-loop model with that of closed-loop. Extended numerical investigation provides insights to the decision makers regarding the actions which can lead to better performance of the system.     

Analysis of fractal manufacturing systems framework towards industry 4.0

Currently, ways to approach the design of Cyber Physical Systems in Industry 4.0 are under development. Emerging concepts of Smart Factories require the development of specialized knowledge; new working methods are also needed to manage the transition from conventional industry to industry 4.0. To achieve this objective, fractal theory could provide the appropriate knowledge and tools. Fractal systems applied to manufacturing have been widely used over the last decades to design complex adaptive systems: it allows the introduction of resilience requirements (capacity to react to changes in a turbulent environment) and to reduce the complexity of its structure, operation and management. In order to know the potential and the possibility of applying fractal theory to the design of systems in Industry 4.0, this article reviews the publications that develop fractal systems for manufacturing engineering. The review includes contributions published between 1985 (approximate date of the first works on the theory applied to manufacturing engineering) and 2019. The objective is to gather those strategies, methodologies and successful case studies that can be useful for the approaches of Industry 4.0 and to define a set of future lines of work for the adaptation of the fractal theory to the new challenges posed by Industry 4.0.     

Interactions of agents in performance based supply chain management

To acquire a competitive advantage in the expanding market, manufacturing companies should be able to manage their supply chain as much effective as possible. Measuring the supply chain performance is one of the main indicators of business success. Supply chain management (SCM) involves managing the flow of materials from suppliers to manufacturing units. This paper proposes a SCM model with performance measurement capabilities. The model is designed in such a way that it well suits to multi agent systems and related implementations. This paper highlights the components of the model especially pointing out the key parameters of performance indicators.     

Strategies in supply chain management for the Trading Agent Competition

Negotiating with suppliers and with customers is a key part of supply chain management. However, with recent technological advances, the mechanisms available to carry out such activities have become increasingly sophisticated, and the environment in which these activities take place has become highly dynamic. As a consequence, the overall planning of these complex trades, and the coordination of the various production and scheduling activities, need to be carefully considered by the businesses involved in the supply chain management. In order to guide the overall planning, production, scheduling, and allocation of resources, especially designed strategies are increasingly used by the businesses. In this setting, it is crucial that the intended behaviour, and through that, the desired outcomes, of these strategies be precisely understood. Using an empirical analysis, this paper investigates two fundamental strategies in supply chain management: buy-to-build and build-to-order.     

An integrated supply chain production–distribution planning with stochastic demands

In this paper a three echelon supply chain with multiple distribution centers, production sites and suppliers is modeled. For this supply chain several commodities with defined items is produced. The model is categorized as a capacitated facility location model. The hierarchical approach is used to modeling and based on decision types the model is divided into two levels. The solution approach is based on the Lagrangian Relaxation approach, improved by an efficient heuristic to solve complex sub-problems. Computational results indicated that the proposed method yields high-quality solutions within a reasonable computational time for various real size problems.