Title: Evaluation of supply chain business process improvements using simulation

Authors: Sanjay Jain, Eric Ervin

Addresses: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Northern Virginia Center, 7054 Haycock Road, Falls Church, VA 22043, USA. ' J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, PO Box 130, Lowell, AR 72745, USA

Abstract: The performance of a supply chain may be improved by implementing e-business concepts across the number of business processes that interact to execute the flow of material and the associated financial transactions. This paper describes an effort utilising modelling and simulation for evaluating the improvements in business processes and systems including a move towards e-business for a logistics and distribution supply chain. The model was abstracted in a manner to put the focus on the business processes while the material flow processes were included at a high level. Model results provided quantification of benefits from different business process improvements. A number of insights applicable to supply chain management are drawn from the results of the analyses.

Keywords: supply chain management; supply chain performance; supply chain transformation; business process improvement; e-business; electronic business; modelling; simulation; demand planning; supply planning; inventory management; material flow; logistics; distribution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPM.2005.007644

International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling, 2005 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.138 - 149

Published online: 30 Aug 2005 *

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