Solving the order promising impasse using multi-criteria decision analysis and negotiation
Original Paper
First online: 01.12.2012
DOI: 10.1007/s12159-012-0094-9
Cite this article as: Hempsch, C., Sebastian, HJ. & Bui, T. Logist. Res. (2013) 6: 25. doi:10.1007/s12159-012-0094-9
Abstract
In an inter-firm make-to-order production environment, it is not always possible to satisfy the available-to-promise (ATP) and capable-to-promise (CTP) conditions due to untimely and unmatched production capacity and customer demand. Therefore, it is important to quickly explore alternate solutions that would satisfy both the customers and the suppliers. The purpose of this paper is to present a multi-agent-based system for automated multi-attribute negotiation in order promising. Our proposed solution is based on concepts of evolutionary system design that advocates for continued exploration of new solutions until a satisfactory solution is found. Based on a number of real-life ordering situations—changes of delivery date, price adjustments, and addition/modifications of value-added services as part of the order package, we embed multi-attribute multi-utility simulations into a linear program to search for a negotiated solution when a typical ATP/CTP function of a supply chain management system fails to fulfill a customer order.
Keywords
Supply chain management Multiple-criteria analysis Multi-agent systems Heuristics Group decision and negotiations Simulation