Bullwhip effect attenuation in supply chain management via control-theoretic tools and short-term forecasts: A preliminary study with an application to perishable inventories

Abstract

Supply chain management and inventory control provide most exciting examples of control systems with delays. Here, Smith predictors, model-free control and new time series forecasting techniques are mixed in order to derive an efficient control synthesis. Perishable inventories are also taken into account. The most intriguing "bullwhip effect" is explained and attenuated, at least in some important situations. Numerous convincing computer simulations are presented and discussed.