An Agent-Based Model of Make-to-Order Supply Chains

Abstract

One kind of important supply chains is make-to-order supply chains. This paper proposes a common agent-based model for the simulation of make-to-order supply chains. Based on the model, scholars can study the management of make-to-order supply chains easily. Agents, who are used to simulate the members of supply chains, produce appropriate products by intelligent choices. The relationships among agents are connected by their products. Agents' attributes are presented by their knowledge and four actions of agents are introduced in the paper. A foreign trade supply chain is simulated to show the availability of the agent-based model. The model should be available as a toolkit for the studying of the make-to-order supply chains.