Modeling supply-chain networks by a multi-agent system

This article proposes a multi-agent information system (MAIS) approach to model the order fulfillment process (OFF) in supply chain networks (SCNs). An order fulfillment process starts with receiving orders from customers and ends with delivery of the finished goods. As manufacturing practice is shifting toward the out-sourcing paradigm, the OFF is more likely to be executed throughout SCNs. It becomes imperative to integrate the OFF into SCNs to improve the OFF. The proposed multi-agent information system (MAIS) approach is used for modeling the OFF in SCNs, and evaluating OFF performance by applying the proposed strategies. The objective of reengineering the OFF is to achieve agility of the process in terms of efficiency, flexibility, robustness and adaptability. A multi-agent simulation platform, called Swarm, is enhanced and applied for modeling the MAIS, and experiments are conducted to simulate the OFF in SCNs in a multi-agent environment. Based on the Swarm simulation platform, we model the OFF in SCNs, simulate the OFF, and then evaluate the potential OFF improvement strategies to identify useful strategies for improving the OFF. The results shed lights on identifying the main effects of various strategies on OFF performance. The insights of utilizing various strategies ill different SCNs help redesign the OFF in SCNs.