Summary, Conclusions and Outlook

In this study, two research questions have been investigated: 1. How volumes and values within the value chain can be managed in an integrated way and, especially, 2. How a global commodity value chain within the chemical industry can be planned by volumes and values.

A value chain planning model has been developed to integrate volume and value decisions within the value chain. Value chain planning is part of value chain management to integrate strategy, planning and operational decisions across the value chain. This value chain management combines separate research areas focusing either on supply, demand or values. It is based on methods like reference models, simulation, optimization, analysis and visualization to support decisions.

Specifically, a global value chain planning model for a companyinternal commodity value chain network has been developed within the process industry. Balancing sales turnover with raw material procurement costs both volatile in volumes and values is the primary task in commodity value chain planning. The global scope poses additional requirements on planning of handling exchange rates and multi-period transportation time and transit inventories between continents. The value chain planning requirements coverage by state of the art literature is analyzed for the specific problem. Literature focuses either on global models, chemical industry models in production and distribution or models handling demand uncertainty by quantity. An integrated volume and value planning approach specifically for chemical commodities is missing so far.