Session: CIE-25-01 - Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Paper Number: 97991

97991 - Decision Support in the Design of Robust and Resilient Manufacturing Supply Networks 

Abstract

Manufacturing supply networks (MSNs) are composed of a large group of interconnected, independent, and globally dispersed enterprises (or entities) playing a variety of roles (entities with similar roles form an echelon), that work together to meet the multiple conflicting goals of the MSN (or system). The entities make independent decisions across different levels of decision-making (strategic, tactical, and operational) to meet their goals. These entity decisions will have varied impacts on the decisions of other entities in the system and on the performance and topology of the system. Additionally, MSNs operate under conditions of uncertainty and external disruptions that will adversely impact the performance of the system.

In this research work, we address the primary research question: How should multi-echelon MSNs, operating under conditions of uncertainty and disruptions be designed so that they are robust and resilient while ensuring the achievement of the entity and system goals? From a decision-based design standpoint, we hypothesize that MSNs can be designed to achieve entity and system goals and at the same time be robust and resilient to uncertainties and disruptions by coordinating the entity decisions that are made across different echelons (horizontal integration) and different levels of decision-making (vertical integration) and thereby ensuring better/improved collaboration. We propose an information and decision flow-based framework that will provide the designer with a systematic approach to model entity decisions and their interactions across different levels of decision-making, detect conflicts, and regulate entity decisions to help improve collaborative decision-making between entities, leading to improved system performance. The proposed framework is generic and can be applied to design systems composed of networked entities where the decision-maker seeks to achieve improved system performance and manage the impacts of uncertainties and disruptions.

Presenting Author: Mathew Baby Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida

Presenting Author Biography: Mathew Baby is currently a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of<br/>Mechanical and Civil Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). He<br/>received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Production Engineering from<br/>the University of Calicut, India. Prior to joining FIT, he worked as an Assistant<br/>Professor at Rajagiri School of Engineering &amp; Technology, India for a period<br/>of 8 years. His areas of research interest are system simulation and<br/>modeling, decision support for the design of complex systems, and supply<br/>chain and operations management.

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