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Reducing the Delivery Time in Food Distribution SMEs Using a Multi-agent System

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Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Engineering Asset Management (WCEAM 2015)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering ((LNME))

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Abstract

The service industry worldwide has been facing unprecedented challenges in terms of delivering products at low cost and with fast delivery speeds. These pressures have had an even greater impact upon SMEs. The use of multi-agent systems (MAS) is increasingly being considered as a practical method of handling the mounting complexity within the supply-chain system which are a result of competing priorities, multiple options, and issues connected with decision-making in real time. Such systems offer a real opportunity to improve lead times, reduce operational costs and therefore enhance business competitiveness. This study aims to investigate the implementation of MAS within the supply chain using the empirical case study of a food distribution SME in Saudi Arabia. The case study indicates that this combination approach can offer considerable performance improvement in SMEs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK

    Fahed Algassem, Qingping Yang & Yuen Au

Authors
  1. Fahed Algassem
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  2. Qingping Yang
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  3. Yuen Au
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fahed Algassem .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland

    Kari T. Koskinen

  2. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tampere, Finland

    Helena Kortelainen

  3. Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland

    Jussi Aaltonen

  4. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tampere, Finland

    Teuvo Uusitalo

  5. Promaint ry, Helsinki, Finland

    Kari Komonen

  6. Asset Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Joseph Mathew

  7. Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland

    Jouko Laitinen

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Algassem, F., Yang, Q., Au, Y. (2016). Reducing the Delivery Time in Food Distribution SMEs Using a Multi-agent System. In: Koskinen, K., et al. Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Engineering Asset Management (WCEAM 2015). Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27064-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27064-7_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27062-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27064-7

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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