Supply chain networks: Closed Jackson network models and properties

In this paper, we model the supply chain network as a closed Jackson queuing network and apply the properties of the closed Jackson network to explain some properties of a supply chain network. Under certain conditions, a simple throughput function that is the function of only the numbers of jobs and stations in the network, can be deduced. Based on the simple throughput function, we can deduce some properties of the supply chain network easily to explain some phenomena in reality.