Supply Chain Simulation As A Service To Increase Adaptation Capability In Manufacturing

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis represents significant challenges for the manufacturing industry, especially for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and further emphasizes the need for supporting the fast and efficient reconfiguration and repurposing of manufacturing lines and supply networks. The European CO-VERSATILE project addresses these challenges by offering the Digital Technopole, a central hub for decentralized services, including manufacturing and supply network simulation, among other vital services in aid of the reconfiguration process. Such simulation services are provided through an external cloud-based platform, the Digital Agora (emGORA). This paper highlights how such novel cloud-based simulation services can be efficiently implemented and offered using the Digital Agora and the Digital Technopole. The presented case study aims to optimize the supply network related to the manufacturing process of silicon facemasks, involving three European SMEs. The implemented solution is offered as cloud-based service to provide scalability, convenient access and reduction of upfront costs.