SupplyNet: Supporting Visual Exploratory Learning in Supply Chain via Contextual Multi-Agent Simulation

Abstract

Simulation has long supported supply chain management instruction by letting learners observe network behavior and test decision strategies. Recent progress in LLM-driven agents opens new possibilities for richer, more adaptive simulations, but many existing systems still present abstract, opaque data that overwhelms learners and discourages active exploration. We introduce \textit{SupplyNet}, a gamified visual simulation system built on a contextual graph-based LLM multi-agent framework that models interdependent supply chain dynamics and provides responsive feedback through tiered challenges. \textit{SupplyNet} turns the simulation into a manipulable decision space by integrating an interactive network view of system state, a branching timeline for "what-if" exploration and comparison, and a task-oriented analysis console for structured performance breakdowns. Together, these visual components support counterfactual exploration, causal tracing, and comparative reasoning about outcomes. A user study suggests that \textit{SupplyNet} increases engagement and supports users' perceived understanding of supply chain dynamics, highlighting the potential of pairing contextual multi-agent simulation with visualization to advance operational comprehension.