Olivier Labarthe

Toward a methodological framework for agent-based modelling and simulation of supply chains in a mass customization context

Abstract In a dynamic customer-centric supply chain context, classic forecasting models turn out to have a limited applicability. In order to estimate the key performance indices of these Supply Chains and to facilitate their management, it is necessary to use more elaborate tools such as a simulation. However building simulation of customer-centric supply chains is no trivial matter. It requires the elaboration of a representative model and the execution of this model according to a set of hypotheses associated to scenarios. Due to their properties, Multi-Agent Systems seem particularly well suited for the modelling and the simulation of Supply Chains and more especially in a mass customization context. In this paper we propose an agent modelling framework for the modelling and simulation of such Supply Chains to facilitate their management. We show how this framework can be applied to a case of customer-centric Supply Chain from the golf club industry and we present an experiment plan associated.

Heuristics for a project management problem with incompatibility and assignment costs

Consider a project which consists of a set of jobs to be performed, assuming each job has a duration of at most one time period. We assume that the project manager provides a set of possible durations (in time periods) for the whole project. When a job is assigned to a specific time period, an assignment cost is encountered. In addition, for some pairs of jobs, an incompatibility cost is encountered if they are performed at the same time period. Both types of cost depend on the duration of the whole project, which also has to be determined. The goal is to assign a time period to each job while minimizing the costs. We propose a tabu search heuristic, as well as an adaptive memory algorithm, and compare them with other heuristics on large instances, and with an exact method on small instances. Variations of the problems are also discussed

Modeling client profiles for order promising and delivery

In order to stay competitive in the global economy which provides clients with a wide range of potential suppliers, businesses offer highly parameterizable products with increasingly shorter delays. We propose a simulation approach that allows businesses to estimate their capacity to honor promised delivery dates in a make-to-order environment. This paper presents a framework as well as the needs that arise when considering client profiles in a modeling and simulation approach. We focus here on our methodology for representing and generating client behaviors, as well as on the demand and supply simulation approach and environment developed to conduct experiments on delivery time promising policies and delivery capacity.

Multi-Agent Modelling for Simulation of Customer-Centric Supply Chain

The analysis of coordination among the Supply Chain (SC) members is a key factor for improving its performance. The highly dynamic demand induced by the volatility of customers requires defining tools to improve the performance. This paper presents an agent-based modelling concept for simulation of customer-centric SC. We describe the specificities of such SCs at the enterprise modelling domain level and propose an approach permitting to explicitly take into account the customers and their behaviours. The approach uses three levels of modelling, successively leading to a domain model, a Conceptual Agent Model (CAM) and an Operational Agent Model (OAM). A case study from the personalised golf club industry illustrates the proposed approach.

A Methodological Approach for Agent Based Simulation of Mass Customizing Supply Chains

Mass customization has a significant impact on supply chains. The management of these highly dynamic organizations requires the development of adapted decision support systems. The agent approach appears fit for modelling and simulating mass customization supply chains. This paper presents a methodological approach for agent oriented modelling and simulation that is based on specific modelling levels and formalisms. The approach is illustrated through a case from the Golf industry.

Holistic modelling, simulation and visualisation of demand and supply chains

The evolution of the economic and technological contexts pressure businesses toward transforming their demand and supply chains to become more customer-centric, collaborative, innovation enabling, agile and personalised. Simulation models are needed to contrast actual vs. proposed chains, analyse the dynamic performance of these chains, and understand their overall behaviour in specific contexts. This paper proposes a holistic agent-oriented approach for modelling, simulation and visualisation of such demand and supply chains. The simulation platform for extended enterprises (SPEE) developed exploits multiple concurrent viewers that can both illustrate global multi-perspective insights into the supply chain as well as tunnel down to highly detailed information. This allows decision makers to embed themselves into the simulation and obtain the holistic visualisation needed to support their decisions.

Modélisation de la demande et du comportement des consommateurs pour la simulation de chaînes logistiques de biens de consommation à haute valeur ajoutée

Cet article propose une approche de modélisation de la demande permettant de représenter explicitement le comportement des consommateurs dans le cadre de simulations holistiques de chaînes logistiques de biens de consommation à haute valeur ajoutée. La demande globale sur une période de simulation est détaillée de façon à considérer les besoins personnalisés de consommateurs interagissant avec un réseau de détaillants. L’approche de modélisation des comportements clients, l’approche de génération de la demande ainsi que des résultats de simulation représentatifs sont présentés dans cet article.

HLA Multi Agent/Short-Lived Ontology Platform for Enterprise Interoperability

This paper aims at proposing an specification of the Federation oriented Enterprise Interoperability concept, using Multi Agent / HLA paradigm and the rising notion of Short-Lived Ontology. We give first, a review of Enterprise Interoperability. Then, we recall on Artificial Agent Concept and HLA Standard that appear to be adequate to support execution of the studied concept. Indeed, on the one hand Agent dialogue fits the concept of information exchange in a federated enterprise interoperability approach, on the other hand the HLA standard, initially designed for military M&S purpose, can be transposed for enterprise interoperability at the implementation level, reusing the years of experiences in distributed systems. From these postulates, we propose the first Agent/HLA Short-Lived Ontology framework for distributed enterprise interoperability solution in the federated enterprise approach.