A comparison of mathematical modelling approaches for stability analysis of supply chains

Production and transportation processes along a supply chain are dynamic. In particular they are subject to perturbations (e.g., breakdown of a resource) that can destabilise the network. Stability is a major property of a supply chain that is essential for a sustainable relationship to its customers. In order to verify the stability of a given supply chain different criteria have been developed. This paper addresses the problem of choosing a proper mathematical modelling approach for a real world network in order to investigate stability. For this reason we discuss different modelling approaches. Each of these approaches can model different characteristics of a supply chain and features a specific stability criterion. By comparing these approaches the paper supports choosing a proper modelling approach for a real world supply chain.