Simulation-based evaluation of forward and reverse supply chain

This paper proposes a simulation-based approach to evaluating a forward and reverse supply chain which includes dismantlers and recyclers as well as manufacturers and distributors. This approach evaluates the supply chain from two viewpoints: environmental load; and economical aspect (cost, benefit, and profitability) of every company´s business included in the supply chain. To evaluate it, the approach models and simulates the material and money flow between and in the components (such as companies and consumers) of the supply chain. The simulation reveals whether each of the companies´ businesses is profitable; how heavy the environmental load is; whether the capacity of each company or factory is enough; and how much capacity is required if a factory is planned to be built and its capacity has not been determined.