Environmental Coordination of Supply Chain Networks Based on a Multi-Agent System

Abstract

Following the actual discussion concerning modem production concepts, an increasing trend to network organizations can be identified. In interconnected production systems materials and different forms of energy are provided, converted, stored and transported. Environmental impacts can be identified at any production unit. In this context the allocation of workload to the different production units, considering simultaneously both ecological and economical goals, is of special interest. In this way it is possible to use available resources more efficiently and to reduce emissions and by-products caused by the production process. To achieve this goal a model of the production system has to be created. This model has to include the input and output streams. Due to the modelling requirements of supply chain networks (modelling of more or less independent production units, dynamic behavior) an agent-oriented simulation seems to be adequate. Secondly evaluation methods for the modelling of the economic and ecological goals have to be integrated. In order to address the multi-criteria structure of such a decision problem, a goal programming approach is discussed.