Exploring the behaviour of a centralised supply chain at Draeger Safety UK

This article presents analysis of the behaviour of a model of a centralised supply chain. The research was conducted within the manufacturing sector and involved the breathing equipment manufacturer Draeger Safety, UK. A simplified model of the Draeger Safety, UK centralised supply chain has been developed and validated. Simulation and analysis have been performed using System Dynamics, non-linear dynamics and control theory. The findings suggest that destructive oscillations of inventory could be generated by internal decision making practices. A management microworld has been developed allowing managers to experiment with different decision policies and learn how the supply chain performs.