A blackboard-based negotiation for collaborative supply chain system

Supply chain management system (SCM) is an integrated network of suppliers, factories, warehouses, distribution centers and retailers, through which the whole chain of logistic processes is managed so that it should aim at a faster and more flexible co-ordination between a company and its customers and suppliers within the chain. Collaboration among the members of SCM plays a critical role to implement an effective SCM, but its implementation would not be easy only with the conventional information sharing mechanism. This study employs the idea of open tender concept with blackboard-based negotiation to develop a collaborative supply chain system. The open tender concept is designed to provide an open and free opportunity to all participants, which make a sound competition to obtain the tender. Blackboard-based negotiation is derived from the mechanism of negotiation among intelligent agents using a blackboard as a media where each agent exchange information. The study applies the idea to a parts/material supply system, which is designed to function as a part of SCM. For replenishment of parts/materials, a company issues a tender and publishes it to a public blackboard for information exchange via the Internet using electronic tender submission form to find appropriate suppliers. Candidate suppliers to the tender are invited to issue their quotations, which compete one another under an open environment and the most appropriate candidate is selected as a result of open competition.