Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management Studies

Abstract The new challenge for business managers is to model and simulate an efficient and effective perishable foods supply chain network that is resilient enough to deal with different disruptions. Therefore, this research aims to model a resilient supply chain for unnecessary perishable foods using an agent-based simulation to deal with future disruptions. To confirm the strategies and model, the statistical population and sample include 7 prominent university professors and 11 managers of various departments of companies producing perishable foods (sales department; production department; planning and warehouse department; laboratory and quality control department; and commercial department). NetLogo software has been utilized to test the agent-based model. The simulation environment in this study includes the behavior and interactions between the members of the supply chain of unnecessary perishable foods and the consumers in Shiraz City. The simulation results indicate that the use of strategies such as consumer behavior tracking, discount, awareness of product safety, robotics, the use of blockchain among the levels of distributors and retailers, and the activation of several supporting suppliers, leads to a resilience supply chain of unnecessary perishable foods under different disruptions. In addition, among the different scenarios, the 30% discount and 40% robotics have been the most effective in the resilience of the supply chain of unnecessary perishable goods under different disruptions.

Abstract The primary goal of this study is to design an agent-based model of the supply chain for perishable goods during the occurrence of specific disruptions. This study is practical in terms of aim and qualitative in terms of data collection method. To validate the model, the views of the statistical population including prominent university professors and manufacturers of perishable goods and experts with experience and expertise in the area of specific disruptions of the perishable goods supply chain were used. Additionally, the snowball method was used to select the sample. In total, the views of 18 experts were used. Agent-based modeling was done using NetLogo software. In this modeling, all supply chain disruptions of perishable goods such as disruptions at the macro level (change in consumer behavior), demand, production, supply, transportation, information, and Financial were considered. Also, according to each disruption, strategies to mitigate the effects such as blockchain, robotics, etc. were determined. The results of agent-based modeling show that the simultaneous use of different strategies in the perishable goods supply chain during the occurrence of specific disruptions significantly reduces the effects of specific disruptions on the perishable goods supply chain. Vaccination along with the application of other strategies such as the use of blockchain, robotics, discounts, subsidy, online purchase methods, non-cash payment methods, awareness of product safety, green packaging, and employee safety and health have significantly reduced the effects of specific disruptions on the perishable non-necessary goods supply chain. In addition, according to the findings of the research, among the various strategies, the discount has played the most significant role in reducing the influences of specific disruptions on the supply chain of non-necessary perishable goods.