Agent based decision support in the supply chain context

This research shows that agent based simulation models can form and effective decisionsupport system in the supply chain context. This kind of simulation based decision supportsystems is based on a simulation model, including some interacting agents and performance andrisk indicators, that has been implemented in a simulation software. The simulation model enablesthe decision-maker to iteratively set parameters, run simulations and evaluate the results. Based onthe retrieved information and knowledge the decision-maker can make decisions regarding how tohandle the real system. In essence, this type of decision support system fuses information fromdifferent sources in a synergistic manner into a situation image that provides effective support forhuman decision-making. The research shows that simulation based decision support systems canimprove the understanding of problems in the supply chain domain since they provide a holisticpicture and awareness on how decisions affect the real system.