Discrete-event simulation for evaluating virtual organizations

Outsourcing is a major driver in the growth of virtual organizations (VOs) in the manufacturing domain. These outsourcing networks can be classified as VOs as they are created from different organizational entities for a specific purpose and exist for a specified period of time. This paper proposes the use of discrete event simulation (DES) as a means of evaluating proposed VO configurations within the request for quotation (RFQ) process. The work presented is targeted at manufacturing-based VOs that are created to carry out specific manufacturing tasks as outlined in an RFQ, rather than more general project-based VOs that are formed to carry out work within a less defined structure. Data from an existing virtual breeding environment (VBE), obtained during field research into outsourcing networks, is used to illustrate the use of DES to support VO creation. As DES requires a high level of skill to use, the design of an easy-to-use web-based application with an embedded simulation engine is described.

[1]  Yi-Ming Wei,et al.  Virtual enterprise and its intelligence management , 2002 .

[2]  Wenxing Zhu,et al.  Partner selection with a due date constraint in virtual enterprises , 2006, Appl. Math. Comput..

[3]  Dingwei Wang,et al.  A branch and bound algorithm for sub-contractor selection in agile manufacturing environment , 2004 .

[4]  Tien-Chin Wang,et al.  Applying consistent fuzzy preference relations to partnership selection , 2007 .

[5]  John E. Kobza,et al.  World Wide Web-based Simulation* , 1998 .

[6]  Jyhjong Lin,et al.  Object-oriented conceptual modeling for commitment-based collaboration management in virtual enterprises , 2004, Inf. Softw. Technol..

[7]  Jim Q. Chen,et al.  Web Application Development Methodologies , 2005 .

[8]  Hamideh Afsarmanesh,et al.  Collaborative networks and their breeding environments : IFIP TC5 WG 5.5 Sixth IFIP Working Conference on Virtual Enterprises, 26-28 September, 2005, Valencia, Spain , 2005 .

[9]  Sergio Cavalieri,et al.  Simulation in the supply chain context: a survey , 2004, Comput. Ind..

[10]  Arturo Molina,et al.  Virtual Breeding Environment : A First Approach to Understand Working and Sharing Principles , 2004 .

[11]  Charles J. Miller,et al.  Analysis of the virtual enterprise using distributed supply chain modeling and simulation: an application of e-SCOR , 2000, 2000 Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.00CH37165).

[12]  Paul A. Savory,et al.  A Web-based interface for storing and executing simulation models , 2000, 2000 Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.00CH37165).

[13]  Alun D. Preece,et al.  Agent-based formation of virtual organisations , 2004, Knowl. Based Syst..

[14]  Kamel Rouibah,et al.  Dynamic data sharing and security in a collaborative product definition management system , 2007 .

[15]  John P. T. Mo,et al.  Tools and methods for managing intangible assets of virtual enterprise , 2003, Comput. Ind..

[16]  Yeongho Kim,et al.  Web-based knowledge management for sharing product data in virtual enterprises , 2002 .

[17]  John A. Marin,et al.  Using intelligent agents to combine heterogeneous distributed data , 1998, SMC'98 Conference Proceedings. 1998 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (Cat. No.98CH36218).

[18]  Min Huang,et al.  Genetic algorithm solution for a risk-based partner selection problem in a virtual enterprise , 2003, Comput. Oper. Res..

[19]  Naiqi Wu,et al.  Selection of partners in virtual enterprise paradigm , 2005 .

[20]  Cathal Heavey,et al.  An evaluation of simulation to support contract costing , 2007, Comput. Oper. Res..

[21]  Wenhuang Liu,et al.  A framework for virtual enterprise operation management , 2003, Comput. Ind..

[22]  Timothy J. Sturgeon,et al.  How Do We Define Value Chains and Production Networks , 2001 .

[23]  Hans Weigand,et al.  Cross-organizational workflow integration using contracts , 2002, Decis. Support Syst..

[24]  Woojong Suh.  Web Engineering: Principles And Techniques , 2005 .

[25]  Nada Lavrac,et al.  A Decision Support Approach to Modeling Trust in Networked Organizations , 2005, IEA/AIE.

[26]  Peigen Li,et al.  Design and implementation of a process-oriented intelligent collaborative product design system , 2004, Comput. Ind..

[27]  Cathal Heavey,et al.  REQUIREMENTS FOR A SIMULATION-BASED TOOL TO AID IN THE CONTRACT-COSTING PROCESS , 2006 .

[28]  Claude Godart,et al.  A model to support collaborative work in virtual enterprises , 2003, Data Knowl. Eng..

[29]  Imre Horváth,et al.  Advanced computer support of engineering and service processes of virtual enterprises , 2006, Comput. Ind..

[30]  Yuh-Min Chen,et al.  Development of an access control model, system architecture and approaches for resource sharing in virtual enterprise , 2007, Comput. Ind..

[31]  Hamideh Afsarmanesh,et al.  Collaborative networks: a new scientific discipline , 2005, J. Intell. Manuf..

[32]  Vladimír Marík,et al.  Industrial adoption of agent-based technologies , 2005, IEEE Intelligent Systems.

[33]  Wilfried Sihn,et al.  Configuration, simulation and animation of manufacturing systems via the Internet , 2002, Proceedings of the Winter Simulation Conference.

[34]  George L. Kovács,et al.  A planning and management infrastructure for large, complex, distributed projects - beyond ERP and SCM , 2003, Comput. Ind..

[35]  Dario Antonelli,et al.  A METHODOLOGY FOR PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF SMEs NETWORKS , 2006 .

[36]  Young-Jun Son,et al.  Distributed simulation: an enabling technology for the evaluation of virtual enterprises , 2001, Proceeding of the 2001 Winter Simulation Conference (Cat. No.01CH37304).

[37]  Hamideh Afsarmanesh,et al.  A Framework for Management of Virtual Organization Breeding Environments , 2005, PRO-VE.