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coceedings of the 2000 Winter Simulation Conference
A. Joines, R. R. Barton, K. Kang, and P. A. Fishwick, eds.
MULTI-AGENT ENABLED MODELING
COLLABORATIVE INVENTORY MANA


Yonghui F
Rajesh Pipl

Centre for Engineering and Tec
School of Mechanical & Pro
Nanyang Technologic
639798, SINGA


Robert de Souza

Viewlocity
Blk 6, Lock Road, #02-00
Gillman Village
1089342, SINGAPORE
STRACT
is paper is framed to address the preliminary approach
ards process-oriented collaborative inventory
m
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A
anagement in supply chains, taking advantage of multi-
ent technology in terms of modeling and simulation.
tially, a SCM support model is proposed as a foundation
combine the supply chain processes with the multi-agent
stem. In succession, a simple PC assembling case is
estigated and simulated mainly to validate the SCM
port model. As a result, the combination has the
tential to make possible a real strategic competitive
vantage for the entire supply chain and will enable new
ms of business, namely, collaborative inventory
nagement. Accordingly, a theoretical framework of
llaborative inventory management is highlighted to
ine and extend the SCM support model with the purpose
synchronize decisions as well as actions.
INTRODUCTION
companying the globalization of business, the
mpetition has transformed from company versus
mpany to supply chain versus supply chain.
cordingly, the supply chain management (SCM) should
sure the objectives to deliver the right product, at the
propriate time, at the competitive cost, and with
stomer satisfaction in order to keep the competitive
vantages. To realize the objectives, SCM might involve
ry complex decision making. However, the effective
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1763 AND SIMULATION TOWARDS
GEMENT IN SUPPLY CHAINS
u
ni
hnology Management
uction Engineering
al University
PORE
Jingru Wu

Graduate School of Business
National University of Singapore
117592, SINGAPORE




anagement of supply chain inventories is perhaps the
ost fundamental objective of supply chain management.
nd, it has become increasingly apparent that limits in
hieving the objectives mainly lie in the ability to
fectively collaborate on both decisions and actions. At
resent, almost no such collaboration is really available
d applicable. Nevertheless, multi-agent technology could
e a favorite alternative to model and simulate the
llaboration mechanisms and processes. Accordingly, this
aper initially proposes a multi-agent enabled SCM
pport model to map the basic supply chain processes.
fter that, a framework of collaborative inventory
anagement is highlighted to refine and extend the SCM
pport model. In other words, the efforts involved in this
aper are to address the preliminary approach towards the
llaborative inventory management.
Therefore, the rest of this paper is organized as
llows. Section 2 briefly reviews the relevant literature on
e application of multi-agent technology in supply chain
anagement. Meanwhile, some opportunities in this
search area are identified as well. Then, the SCM support
odel is initially proposed in Section 3 to model the basic
pply chain processes. Section 4 investigates and
mulates a simple PC assembling case mainly to validate
e SCM support model. Furthermore, Section 5 highlights
e framework of collaborative inventory management.
inally, Section 6 addresses some conclusions as well as
e future work.