Modeling supply chain configuration based on colored Petri nets

This paper introduces an integrated modeling and analysis formalism based on colored Petri nets (CPNs) for supply chain configuration and evaluation. The structural changes of different configurations are explicitly expressed and formalized as CPNs. The formalism can deal with such issues as generic variety representation, constraint compliance and material flow control. The rationale of modeling supply chain configuration is to capture explicitly important information related to the supply chain network in conjunction with product, process and logistics decision making.