Resilience by Teaming: Distribution Network Design and Flow Management Protocols

Abstract

Agents in a supply network deliver flow to other agents in the network or to entities outside the scope of the SN. Flow distribution occurs through flow links $fl_{i \to j}$ which are subject to disruptions that affect service levels, possibly extending far beyond the reach of a single link. Therefore, creating resilient links and managing flow to avoid and overcome disruptions without impact on the service level is of utmost importance. This chapter presents two protocols from the Resilience by Teaming framework: Distribution Network Formation/Re-configuration Protocol (DNF/RP) and Distribution Flow Control Protocol (DFCP). DNF/RP implements a fuzzy network formation and reconfiguration strategy designed to create routes that balance the cost of flow distribution with the ability to re-configure the route in the face of disruptions. DFCP performs real-time monitoring and route re-configuration to avoid disruptions and ensure flow delivery according to the predefined SLAs. The use of resilient distribution protocols in combination with the sourcing and internal control protocols introduced in preceding chapters provides the foundation for Resilience by Teaming in supply networks.