Synchronizing and Improving Supply Chains through the application of Cyber- Physical Systems

Abstract

Supply chains are embedded in dynamic environments. Their management is challenged by the occurrence of perturbations, as well as by complex production and transport networks. Dealing with those characteristics requires high levels of operational flexibility. In order to accomplish that flexibility, several technologies have been developed for allowing the capture, processing and exchange of information between involved agents. A system that deals with the physical as well as the informational aspects of processes can be denominated as a Cyber-physical system (CPS). In this paper, firstly, specific research topics related to CPS in Supply Chains were reviewed to provide a reference model. Afterwards a conceptual model was proposed to illustrate the differences between Supply Chains employing (or not) CPS concept. Finally, a simulation-based test case was developed to substantiate the implications of implementing CPS for synchronizing and improving Supply Chains.