Improving the supply chain efficiency based on reliability analysis

Abstract

One of the objectives of every company is to minimize disruption to its operation. It is an axiom of business that no business stands alone. The reliability of any business depends in part on the reliability of its upstream business partners. As a consequence, the level of disruption to a company’s operations depends in part on the reliability of its upstream business part- ners. Every supply chain is composed of a network of businesses where each depends on upstream business for supplies and ser- vices. A reliability chain exists along supply chains. This paper models for improving supply chains efficiency by designing SC that is robust (i.e., perform well with respect to uncertainties in the data, such as demand) and reliable (i.e., perform well when parts of the system fail).