Title: Metamodel analysis on multi-echelon supply chain simulation experiments

Authors: Laigang Song, Xueping Li, Alberto Garcia-Diaz

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, 416 East Stadium Hall, Knoxville, TN 37919, USA. ' Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, 416 East Stadium Hall, Knoxville, TN 37919, USA. ' Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, 416 East Stadium Hall, Knoxville, TN 37919, USA

Abstract: Metamodels are abstractions of a simulation model to reveal the system|s input-output relationship through simple mathematical expression. It provides an analytical way to study the behaviour of complex systems. A multi-echelon supply chain is one of such systems, which is usually extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain closed-form analytical solutions due to the intrinsic complexity of the inventory system and its underlying uncertainty. In this paper, we apply the methodology of simulation metamodel to a multi-echelon supply chain problem and conduct statistical analysis of the parameters. The metamodel is validated using training experiment conditions.

Keywords: metamodels; supply chain management; inventory policies; experiment design; simulation; multi-echelon SCM; input-output relationships; abstractions; complex systems; closed-form analytical solutions; intrinsic complexity; underlying uncertainty; statistical analysis; parameters; training conditions; industrial engineering; systems engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2010.033995

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2010 Vol.6 No.1, pp.24 - 44

Published online: 06 Jul 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article