Supply chain integration types

Different types of industries require different characteristics to be taken into account, because in model-based planning the real decision situation must be represented adequately, as the solution will otherwise not provide any benefit. Along the lines of Meyr and Stadtler [3], the characteristics of different supply chains can be classified into functional attributes (procurement type, production type, distribution type, and sales type) and structural attributes (topography of a supply chain, integration, and coordination). 

The first question targets an enhancement of supply chain management towards value chain management with integrated volumes and value planning. The second question is related to a specific industry type as basis to... 

The implementation of SCM involves identifying the supply chain members, with whom it is critical to link, what processes need to be linked with each of these key members, and what type/ level of integration applies to each process fink. The objective of SCM is to maximize competitiveness... 

There is a variety of software packages for each link in the supply chain. As computers and telecommunications equipment become cheaper, there will be even more advanced types of software available. To simplify the presentation of the types and role of the software used, software will be discussed here in 3 major sections. The internal linkages (software integrating our own firm s functions) will be discussed first, because this usually serves as the platform for integrating the firm with other software. Second, software that links our firm to our customers will be examined. Third, software that links our firm to our suppliers will be the final type that is reviewed. 

A common type of software used by firms to manage their internal portion of the supply chain is enterprise resources planning (ERP) system. An ERP system attempts to integrate all of the information processes in the organization and to use this integration to improve performance for the customer. 

New theories or frameworks need to be developed to identify patterns within or between industry sectors and product development project types. Several attempts have been made in the past, while new challenges have also emerged. In this chapter CE has been described as an innovation system aimed at generating a production system that is capable to sustainably produce the new product envisioned. The production system is often also a complex system of collaborating companies, for example in a supply chain. Based on this view a framework has been proposed that can be used to describe CE processes and its resulting production system for farther analysis. Examples of innovation in the food industry have been presented, which show that several innovation systems may co-exist and interact. In addition, specific properties of food production systems, in particular integration and coordination, have been presented that need to be taken into account when developing a production system. 

Utilizes the concept of generic supply chain unit as the main building block of the simulation model. Section 9.4 defines the type of hybrid models and elaborates a meta-modeling based method for development of the hybrid models. The method allows for computationally efficient integration between the optimization and simulation models. An example illustrating the hybrid modeling is provided. 

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