Multi-level supply chain optimization with uncertain time delay by time-stamping predictive control

Abstract EN

This paper solves inventory fluctuation caused by uncertain time delay in a multi-level supply chain network, including lead time for manufacturing and lag time for ordering.

Time stamping predictive control is proposed as an optimizer to handle random delay.

In most researches, order postponing time is assumed as zero although it influences supply chain operation obviously.

Only lead time is mostly considered during the optimization, so the effect of uncertain time delay is analyzed here.

Simulations both on simple supply chain and weighted supply chain show robustness and availability of the method under stochastic and fastidious customer demands.

Computational validation reveals that our algorithm plays better performance on bullwhip effect than standard model predictive control.