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PUBLICATIONS

An investigation into an approach for automated supply chain onboarding

Published

Author(s)

Elena Jelisic, Nenad Ivezic, Boonserm Kulvatunyou, Perawit Charoenwut, Ana Nikolov

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the cold chain for bio-pharmaceutical products to the spotlight. To preserve their structure and function, biopharmaceuticals such as cells, proteins and enzymes, RNA molecules, and RNA-based drugs (e.g., mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines) require low temperatures for proper handling, storage, and transport. Due to the sensitivity of these products transported through cold chains and the lack of traceability, risks associated with the stability, efficacy, safety, tardiness, quality, and waste are significant. For this reason, the ability to quickly find, connect, and do business with a new supply chain partner, such as in cold chain partnering is essential. Many researchers suggested various approaches to improve the effectiveness of cold chains. However, standardization and interoperability remain open challenges. Motivated by the biopharma risks and the need for interoperability, this paper presents a preliminary investigation into a novel approach for automating the onboarding of new supply chain partners. Based on the analysis of previous efforts in the cold chain domain, the notion of external context is recognized. In addition, the paper introduces the notion of business context which is proposed as a basis for a novel approach to achieve agile supply chain via automatic supply chain partner onboarding. Cold chain networking is used as a specific case study. The investigation results show that, with identified improvements, the approach has a potential to increase the automation in supply chain integration.
Proceedings Title
International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC/CIE)
Volume
V002T02A059
Conference Dates
August 20-23, 2023
Conference Location
Boston, MA, US
Conference Title
International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
Pub Type
Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2023-117486
Local Download

Keywords

Cold Chain, Context-awareness, Integration, Standardization, Supply Chain, Biopharmaceutical
Standards and Bioscience

Citation

Jelisic, E. , Ivezic, N. , Kulvatunyou, B. , Charoenwut, P. and Nikolov, A. (2023), An investigation into an approach for automated supply chain onboarding, International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC/CIE), Boston, MA, US, [online], https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2023-117486, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=936622 (Accessed April 27, 2024)

Created November 21, 2023, Updated November 27, 2023