Dynamic information flow for designing simultaneous coordination model in e-supply network

Abstract

The automation of negotiation among buyers and suppliers has provided cutting-edge knowledge on scientific approaches to the management of supply networks. Concentrating on information flow and cooperation among echelons, studies have designed coordination mechanisms for a two-echelon supply chain: buyers and suppliers. However, quantitative investigations are hardly found that take into account the difficulties introduced by sheer number of participants in the network when attempting to find, and negotiate with potential counterparts. Here, we introduce the concept of a simultaneous coordination mechanism which allows the agents share information both vertically, i.e. suppliers and buyers, and horizontally, i.e. the interaction among buyers. A cooperative game theory framework and a search process based on the similarity of users' profiles are proposed in order to re-establish the global optimality. To illustrate the model characteristics in providing dynamic flow, we model a prototype using Colored Petri Nets (CPNs).