BASE MODELS FOR SIMULATING THE SOUTH AFRICAN FORESTRY SUPPLY CHAIN

Abstract

The South African forestry supply chain is a complex system that involves both the production of trees (site preparation, re-establishment, tending, and maintenance operations) and the production and distribution of wood products from plantation stands to the pulp-and sawmills. This paper reports on a study that investigated the suitability of discrete-event simulation for modelling forestry supply chains. As part of a larger research project, two discrete-event simulation models with bi-objective optimisation of the South African pulpwood and saw-timber supply chains respectively were developed. The simulation models were developed for each supply chain by first mapping out the supply chain processes through subject-matter expert and stakeholder consultation. Thereafter simulation concept models were developed, and the required input data were identified, acquired, and verified. The simulation models were verified and validated to be realistic representations of the supply chains that they imitate. The study concluded that the simulation models demonstrated the ability to perform scenario analysis and bi-objective optimisation. It was also demonstrated that the two disciplines of industrial engineering and forestry science can successfully collaborate.