Title: Simulation modelling and analysis of fresh agri-food supply chain configuration: the case of Arusha city in Tanzania

Authors: Martin Mathias Dome; Sadananda Prusty

Addresses: Business Management Department, Institute of Accountancy Arusha, P.O. Box 2798, Arusha, Tanzania ' Jaipuria Institute of Management, Block A, Gate No. 2, Shakti Khand IV, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad – 201014, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract: This study achieved threefold objectives: analyse the existing supply chain (SC) configuration of fresh agri-food supply chain (AFSC), apply simulation technique to SC configuration and evaluate it. Primary data were collected on arrival of consignment from suppliers seeking timely-accurate services. For the departure to other designated distribution points, the data were collected concurrently and were triangulated with secondary data. The methodology involved building a simulation model based on SIMUL8 Professional and the input data were run as part of studying the largest market. The findings include: fresh AFSC has a defined configuration that results from doing 'business as usual' and informally; the configuration is marked by inefficiencies viz. time wastage and underutilisation of personnel and tools/workstations) of the central market posing a bottleneck in the whole SC in meeting the time-sensitive performance criterion. These findings suggest for restructuring-interventions, formalising business practices and future large-scale simulation studies in AFSC to improve performance.

Keywords: simulation; modelling; simulation modelling; agri-food; supply chain; agri-food supply chain; fresh agri-food supply chain; SIMUL8 professional; supply chain configuration; Tanzania.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPIM.2020.117148

International Journal of Business Process Integration and Management, 2020 Vol.10 No.2, pp.162 - 169

Received: 12 Aug 2019
Accepted: 27 Sep 2019

Published online: 19 Aug 2021 *

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