WITXALIZING A DISTRIBUTION SUPPLY CHAIN SWZULATION WITH LIVE DATA

This paper describes Vigic, simulation of a supply chain network for the distribution of new automobiles. The model is implemented in Simulation Dynamic's Supply Chain Builder product. One of the key features of the model is its integration with a database containing the status of all vehicle shipments--VinVidon. The information in the database is used to distribute vehicles and resources through the network at model start, and the model can then be used to project forward from the cnrrent situation. The model is thus able to have a "warm start," and does not require the warm-up period necessary in simulation models that start with the system empty and idle. I INTRODUCTION Simulation models used to evaluate the performance of existing or new supply-chains tend to be non-terminating. Effects of transient conditions in the output data are commonly addressed by conducting long simulation runs, so that any initial couditions have only a miniscule effect on the long-run value of the performance measure. An alternative way to deal with the effects of initial conditions is to prime the simulation by appropriately placing flow entities in the model at stamp (Banks 1998). For a large supply-chain this can be a non-trivial matter. 2 BACKGROUND Insight Network Logistics (INL,), a subsidiary of Union Pacific Corporation, is a third-party logistics provider (3PL). DaimlerChrysler has assigned INL the task of track