Title: Intelligent planning and control of manufacturing supply chains in virtual enterprises

Authors: Dmitry A. Ivanov, Alexander V. Arkhipov, Boris V. Sokolov

Addresses: Chemnitz University of Technology, Department of Economics and Business Administration, Chair of Production and Industrial Management, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany. ' Saint Petersburg State University of Technology and Design, Faculty of Economics, Ul. B. Morskaja 18, St. Petersburg, Russia. ' Russian Academy of Science, Saint Petersburg Institute of Informatics and Automation, 39, 14 Linia, VO, St. Petersburg, 199178, Russia

Abstract: This article addresses the methodological problem of formal representation and mathematical modelling of flexible configurable supply chains (SC) in virtual enterprises (VE). The particular feature of this problem lies in high level of complexity and uncertainty in VE. The classic methods do not allow developing of practicable complex models with the sufficient degree of flexibility and taking into account the goal-oriented (active) behaviour of enterprises. We consider the SC planning and control in VE at the conceptual level and introduce an integrated approach for complex modeling and optimisation of SC in VE. This approach is based on combination of classic and multi-agent approaches, adaptive planning and control, and multiple-model complexes. The planning, monitoring and reconfiguration of SC are considered complex based on the unified methodological principles. It allows interconnecting of planning and control models as well as adaptation of models to the current execution environment.

Keywords: intelligent control; integrated modelling; manufacturing; intelligent planning; supply chain planning; supply chain control; supply chain management; SCM; virtual enterprise; flexible supply chains; configurable supply chains; complexity; uncertainty; optimisation; multi-agent systems; agent-based systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2007.013192

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.11 No.2, pp.209 - 227

Published online: 11 Apr 2007 *

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