ASCS 2013 - Special Sessions on Advanced Supply Chain Simulation in Practice and Theory (ASCS)

A supply chain can be too complex to describe it as mathematical equations. Even if a mathematical model was formulated, it could be too complex to obtain a solution by means of analytical techniques. Supply chain simulation (SCS) can provide a valuable idea about the most important variables and how they interact. It can also be used to experiment with new situations about which little or no information is available (uncertainty), and to check new policies and decision rules before risking experiments with the real supply chain.
Literature in SCS area can be classified according to the following various categories. From the methodology perspective, there are four types of simulation problems for supply chains: validation and verification; sensitivity or the what-if analysis; optimizing the critical control factors; and robustness, risk, or the uncertainty analysis. From the simulation technique, there are also four types of simulation used in SCM: spreadsheet simulation; system dynamics; discrete event simulation; and business games. The type of simulation that must be used will depend on the problem to be solved by the problem in each specific case.
Simulation is a widely accepted tool in complex supply chain systems design and analysis. However, it is essentially a trial-and-error approach, and is therefore, time-consuming and does not provide a method for optimization. Various simulation optimizations (SO) approaches have been pursued in order to tackle these drawbacks. Metamodel based-methods, statistical selection methods, stochastic gradient estimation, evolutionary algorithms, etc. represents the most widely used methods for SO. This session focuses to integrate the new developments about supply chain simulation and optimization via simulation.
The session will cover all aspects of theoretical developments and practical applications, such as methodologies, techniques, studies, and experiences in current research in this area.
Topics:
Modeling and analysis methodology: Spreadsheet simulation, System dynamics, Discrete event simulation, Business games, Agent-based Simulation, Optimization via simulation, Business Process Modeling, Monte Carlo Simulation,
Applications: Logistic, Transportation and Distribution applications, Construction Engineering and Project Management, Risk Analysis, Inventory systems, Manufacturing and scheduling applications, Health-Care, Case Studies and general applications
Special Session Organizers:
Wafik Hachicha
Higher Institute of Industrial Management
University of Sfax, Tunisia
wafik_hachicha-AT-yahoo.fr
Faouzi Masmoudi
Engineering School of Sfax
University of Sfax, Tunisia
faouzi.masmoudi-AT-enis.rnu.tn
Program Committee:
Naoufel Cheikhrouhou
Arunkumar Pennathur
Samir Lamouri
Makatsoris Harris
Dayana Cope
Mohamed Sam Fayez
Mansooreh Mollaghasemi
Assem Kaylani
Christian Almeder
Margaretha Preusser
Richard F. Hartl
Sergio Terzi
Wisinee Wisetjindawat
Kazushi Sano
Dobrila Petrovic
Dean C. Chat?eld
Jack C. Hayya
Terry P. Harrison
Raffaele Iannone
Salvatore Miranda
Stefano Riemma
Henri Pierreval
Romain Bruniaux
Christophe Caux
Jing Li
Zhaohan Sheng
Cheng Zhang
H. Lee Young