Accomm: adaptive system for supply network operational planning

This paper aims to present Accomm a software implementation of Ágora-SN, a supply network (SN) customer-oriented model integrated with an Adaptation Model. Accomm serves two purposes: as an experimental validation tool to measure the impact of Adaptation on an agribusiness SN model and as a logistic and marketing operations planning assistant.

The design of Accomm is based on the results of the Ágora-SN model that comprises the following tasks: to characterize the SN actors’ processes ( composed of multiple first-tier suppliers, a focal company and multiple first-tier customers), identifying the ones oriented to the customer; to integrate these processes into a SN model which incorporates a supplier cooperation model; and to provide an adaptation model that implements a customer profile and a context profile to improve order fulfillment.

To validate the Ágora-SN model, a prototype Accomm was created referred to a real Colombian agribusiness sector company, specifically in the floriculture sector. This prototype was validated through two methods: a usability scale and a set of scenarios that compared the application’s behavior with and without adaptation and cooperation. The application provides a better response to demand when both adaptation and cooperation are enabled.

This work was tested in an academic environment and was validated by different experts. Further tests in operational real-life environments are required to fully validate the approach.

The main contribution of this work is the integration of Adaptation into a SN model as a way to center the SN toward the customer. As an additional contribution, the validation tool Accomm is conceived as an operational planning tool for agribusiness SN.