Mill-scale supply chain and logistics model integration for improved decision support

摘要

The management of cane procurement and general logistics at a milt scale remains complex and contains valuable opportunities for improved efficiencies and cost savings. In the past, several researchers have focused on different logistical and supply chain issues. This paper reviews these works and attempts to synthesise valuable modelling contributions towards a more holistic supply chain decision support system. Three previously independent research projects that focused on modelling supply chain and logistics issues at the Sezeia sugar mill in South Africa are reviewed. Firstly, a simulation logistic model was used to assess the impacts of logistics on harvest-to-crush delays. Secondly, an optimisation model was used to quantify the impacts of different management rules on transportation and mill performance. Thirdly, a weekly supply chain model was used to estimate the potential benefits of different management strategies on capacities, utilisation and sugar production. The integration of shorttime stepped logistical models and larger time stepped supply chain models are discussed in order to create a suitable decision support environment that will assist mill scale management to assess the impacts of their decisions at various levels across the supply chain and over extended periods of time. An integrated modelling system, therefore, has the ability to assess the logistical impacts of longer term supply chain decisions, and vice versa. Integrated systems, however, pose challenges in findingsuitable input data and software interfaces. It is concluded that an integrated supply chain modelling system, although difficult to conceptualise and construct, offers real potential benefits to the optimal management of sugar cane supply chains.