Extension of an agent-based simulation for the optimized allocation of freight requests to differently structured supply chains

Abstract

The paper deals with the extension of the logistics simulation within an agent-based simulation framework to be able to consider the delivery across several supply chains. The logistics simulation is placed in the context of the underlying freight transportation simulation. The use of multiple possible logistics chains addresses a key limitation of previous studies. Logistics chains represent the various transportation options of a Logistic Service Provider (LSP) and are made up of resources such as depots, logistics hubs and carriers that the logistics service provider can commission. When implementing the new functionality, the existing flow of the simulation process must be considered. In particular, changes need to be made to the assignment of freight requests to logistics chains, the iterative optimization of this assignment and scheduling. Appropriate assignment methods and rescheduling strategies are developed and presented. These innovations reveal compatibility problems within the existing simulation framework. The functionality developed is presented in constructed scenarios, highlighting the advantages of using multiple logistics chains. In addition, the applicability is demonstrated in a comprehensive real scenario that includes the delivery of supermarkets.