Mixed-model assembly systems and modular supply chains are enablers to high product variety. However, as variety gets very high, the assembly and supply processes can become very complex. In assembly systems, the complexity may cause human errors and in turn impacts system performance. The complexity also impacts supply chain configuration and inventory control policy. This paper proposes a uni...

traceability is a basic requirement for the most of products from the viewpoint of governments and customers. it has base of quality systems and supports integration of supply chain information systems. this paper has presented a holistic model for supply chain traceability through structural equation modeling. this model will support recall of products, quality assurance requirements, improve ...

The significance of systems configuration issues has been increased in many applied domains (e.g., software, hardware, manufacturing systems, supply chain systems, solving strategies). In the paper several system configuration problems are investigated: (i) search for (selection of) a set (structure) of system components, (ii) search for a set of compatible system components, (iii) reconfigurat...

Inventory record inaccuracy leads to ineffective replenishment decisions and deteriorates supply chain performance. Conducting cycle counts (i.e., periodic inventory auditing) is a common approach to correcting inventory records. It is not clear, however, how inaccuracy at different locations affects supply chain performance and how an effective cycle-count program for a multi-stage supply chai...

In the recent decades, rapid population growth has led to the significant increase in food demand. Food supply chain has always been one of the most important and challenging management issues. Product with short age, especially foodstuffs, is the most problematic challenges for supply chain management. These challenges are mainly due to the diversity in the number of these goods, the special n...

Multi-agent systems (MAS) are becoming popular for modeling complex systems such as supply chains. However, development of multi-agent systems remain quite involved and extremely time consuming. Currently, there exist no generic methodologies for modeling supply chains using multi-agent systems. In this research, we propose a generic process-centered methodological framework, Multi-Agent Supply...

This research studies the single-stage supply chain system operated under JIT technique. A kanban mechanism is employed to assist in linking the production processes in a supply chain system. The number of kanbans, batch size, and the number of batches are determined optimally. Based on this information, kanban operation between two adjacent plants can be worked out for controlling the supply c...

in today's globalization, an effective integration of production and distribution plans into a unified framework is crucial for attaining competitive advantage. this paper addresses an integrated multi-product and multi-time period production/distribution planning problem for a two-echelon supply chain subject to the real-world variables and constraints. it is assumed that all transportations a...