The design of an agent for modelling supply chain network dynamics
The design of an agent for modelling supply chain network dynamics
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DOI：
10.1080/00207540500168295
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发表时间：
2005-11
影响因子：
9.2
通讯作者：
J. Allwood;J. Lee
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
J. Allwood;J. Lee
从商业系统的模拟中可以发现对管理决策的有用的见解，但现有的供应链行为模拟的工作主要考虑了非竞争性链。在对竞争性代理人进行审查的地方，它们通常具有简单的结构，并被用于对稳定性和均衡性的基本审查，而不是为管理者提供实践指导。本文提出了一种新的研究竞争性供应链网络动力学的智能体。该代理的新颖功能包括在竞争供应商之间进行选择、在多个客户之间优先分配订单、管理生产和库存以及根据竞争行为确定价格。代理的结构与现有的业务模式有关，并提供了足够的细节以允许实施。测试表明，该代理重现了现有供应链动态建模和管理文献的主要结果。对竞争动力学进行了简要的探讨，以证实所提出的智能体能够对竞争做出响应。结果表明，当企业共同运作时，供应链网络的整体盈利能力是最大的。个别企业有可能通过采取更具竞争力的立场来实现更高的利润，但其后果是降低了网络的整体盈利能力。该代理将用于广泛研究管理决策对其供应商和客户网络的长期影响。
A useful insight into managerial decision making can be found from simulation of business systems, but existing work on simulation of supply chain behaviour has largely considered non-competitive chains. Where competitive agents have been examined, they have generally had a simple structure and been used for fundamental examination of stability and equilibria rather than providing practical guidance to managers. In this paper, a new agent for the study of competitive supply chain network dynamics is proposed. The novel features of the agent include the ability to select between competing vendors, distribute orders preferentially among many customers, manage production and inventory, and determine price based on competitive behaviour. The structure of the agent is related to existing business models and sufficient details are provided to allow implementation. The agent is tested to demonstrate that it recreates the main results of the existing modelling and management literature on supply chain dynamics. A brief exploration of competitive dynamics is given to confirm that the proposed agent can respond to competition. The results demonstrate that overall profitability for a supply chain network is maximised when businesses operate collectively. It is possible for an individual business to achieve higher profits by adopting a more competitive stance, but the consequence of this is that the overall profitability of the network is reduced. The agent will be of use for a broad range of studies on the long-run effect of management decisions on their network of suppliers and customers.