Visualizing Perishable Product Supply Chain Using Petri Net Modeling

Rapid development in technology and regular identification of new dynamic factors, offer challenges for modeling supply chain. Particularly supply chain of perishable products. These products require a special attention because of quality of product may deteriorate as product moves from one stage to other. India being, a country of large scale production of food, vegetables, meat and milk, hence require most advanced solutions for improving overall supply chain surplus. Presently high amount of wastage, 20–30% which is predominantly related to inefficient supply chain management. This inefficiency can be minimized by suitable modeling. This paper presents modeling of Perishable Product Supply Chain (PPSC) using Petri Net. Modeling of PPSC is based on concept of dynamic and discrete event system. Considering these two concepts, petri net model has been developed. The model provides a theoretical way to discuss the various states and transitions occur in PPSC. Various stages of PPSC starting from farmer, aggregator, processor, distributor, retailer and consumer provides an insight into the system with different drivers such as inventory, logistics, cold chain management, information technology, tracing and tracking of products. Model is developed using colored petri net technique. Purpose of this modeling is to explain a complex system into a simpler and easier way. Graphical notation of the model allows the visualization of complexity of the system and thus provides a mathematical framework for analysis and verification.