Research For Operation Mode Selection And Simulation Of Automotive Inbound Logistics Based On Supply Chain Collaboration

The automotive industry is an important pillar industry in national economy. It has a long industrial chain and a high correlation degree. It can also boost consumer demand and employment opportunities. The automobile industry is playing an influential role in the national economy and social development. What is more, the key point of automobile profession's development lies in the automotive logistics development. In general, the automotive inbound logistics involve hundreds of parts suppliers and over ten thousand spare part types, and its management is especially complicated. Therefore, the management mode's choices of inbound logistics, which adapts with the Chinese automobile industry, have a realistic demand background. On the one hand, inbound logistics modes'selection is the basic guarantee for highly effective and low cost operation. The pattern essence carries on the conformity and coordination to enterprise's internal and external resources. On the other hand, the selection of inbound logistics modes has become main conflict source of key operational links and node enterprises in the automobile supply chain.In order to ensure vehicle plant'JIT production, main node factories of automotive inbound logistics must run with highly coordination. In this paper, the modes selection of auto parts' inbound logistics was studied from the perspective of collaborative supply chain operations. The consolidated operating model which based on JIT production requirements was established through the integration of production strategies, transportation strategies and inventory strategies. And two research methods of analysis and simulation were used. First of all, the models considered N spare part suppliers, a Supply-hub and a manufacturing plant. Models aimed to minimum total cost under ensuring JIT supply. Then, the extreme points were solved in the integrated mode and the contrastive mode of Supply-hub. In addition, the simulation model was based on the analytical model. This article used the professional EXTEND simulation software, simulated system logic fully, and carried on sensitive analysis of key variables. In turn, the comparative features of two inbound logistics modes were obtained. The conclusions of analytical analysis and simulation study show: the mode selection directly depended on the values of the nine variables in the model, and they would inevitably affect the decision-making. When the batch unit production costs, inventory carrying costs per unit at parts suppliers, penalty for over stocking per unit and inventory carrying costs per unit at supply hub maintained the rising trend, the total costs of integrated mode and Supply-hub mode would increase. Moreover, the integrated mode whose total cost was lower should be a good choice. When transportation cost per times in the parts cycle was not higher than that of trunk transportation, Milk-run mode should be adopted. When smallest safety stock rises, the Supply-hub operation pattern should be selected. When established maximum inventory and plant's demand increased unceasingly, several situations would present one after another. The pattern choice should be made decision according to the different situation.The results explain the distribution pattern in the current inbound logistics modes. They also provide important indicators and simulation basis for inbound logistics mode selection.