SCM Globe

June 10, 2020

Supply Chain Design and Simulation Made Easy

In SCM Globe, supply chains are created by combinations of the four supply chain entities – Products, Facilities, Vehicles, Routes. So to build a model of any supply chain involves defining the characteristics of these four entities and then combining them to create the supply chain you are modeling.

This happens in eight steps. The screenshots below illustrate these steps.

  1. Draw Supply Chains on the Map on the left-hand side.

A screenshot of information on using the SCM Globe application hovering over a map of the world. There are arrows pointing to fields within data windows.

SCM Globe leverages Google maps – Use it to model existing supply chains or design new ones. Once logged in, you can click on “My Account” or “View Library” to edit supply chain from list or create a new one.

2. Define Your Products

First, create the four supply chain objects: Products; Facilities; Vehicles; Routes. Then we can start work on defining the product name, price, weight, and size. Click on “New” to add a new one or edit an existing product.

A map of the united states with highlighted routes. There is a teal arrow pointing to a section of a data window on the right and hovering on the left of the map.

3. Define Your Facilities

Define facilities: click “New” to add new facilities; ‘Edit’ to modify existing facilities. Much like you would ediit a product, you can edit your facility details including the name, type, storage capacity, and more.

S4 Step3

4. Define Your Vehicles

Define the vehicle and select its type: Truck, Train, Ship, Plane and edit it’s vehicle details.

 

A map of Cincinnati with highlighted routes. There is two teal numbered arrow pointing to a section of a data window in the middle of the picture.

5. Define Your Routes

Define route: For selected Vehicles define single-stop or multi-stop routes. Be sure to add one or more products to each route. You have the option to select a select a product and adjust its drop and pickup quantity. Remember, in complex supply chain, merchandise can also be picked up.

A map of Cincinnati with highlighted routes. There are two data windows with two number arrows pointing to information.

6. Simulate Supply Chain Performance

At this point, you should now have a completed supply chain consisting of the four entities: Products, Facilities, Vehicles, and Routes. Click on “Simulation” to see how this supply chain will operate. You can analyze the information once it’s running.

A map of Cincinnati with highlighted routes. There is a teal arrow pointing to a section of a data window to the right of the map.

7. See Supply Chain Operating Results

Once you click on “simulation”, a new tab will open where the supply chain simulation will run. Click on “Play” and begin to analyze the real-time supply chain performance data. Once the simulation identifies a problem in the simulation, an error message will appear indicating the problem.

A map of Cincinnati with highlighted routes. There are two arrows pointing to two data windows.

Where is the 8th step?

That is the step where you see what went wrong and you go back to fix it. You make changes as needed to one or more of the four entities – products, facilities, vehicles, routes. Then you run the simulation again to see what happens, and you keep simulating and making changes until you get your supply chain to run for 30 days.

 

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