System Dynamics Modeling: Technological Solution to Evaluating Cold-Chain Meat Packaging Scenarios

Abstract

A cold-chain meat packaging project was developed for a meat product company in northwestern Mexico that moves high volumes of fresh meat into national and international markets. The objective of the present research is to evaluate the supply process for three types of thermo-shrinkable polyethylene bags to provide a technological solution for high-volume meat packaging based on a graphical user interface. A system dynamics (SD) methodology is developed in seven stages to generate a technological solution: (1) system mapping; (2) causal diagram construction; (3) stock, flow modeling, and equations; (4) model simulation; (5) model validation; (6) scenarios and multicriteria analysis; and (7) graphical user interface development. The main result for the company was a technological solution that could communicate with decision-makers and the proposed graphical user interface. Future optimistic and pessimistic scenarios were self-evaluated based on the current situation related to three thermo-shrinkable bags used for selling high volumes of fresh meat. In these solutions, previously simulated costs and savings can be implemented in a real situation. Quantitative graphical user interface data can be observed to adequately manage box and bag inventories and minimize costs. Using SD enables the development of technological solutions in complex environments with robust simulations and models that offer data to people interested in the system under study.