Supply chain planning

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In recent years, supply chain planning has become one of the industry's most challenging issues. The focus is shifting from managing specific operations to a holistic view of logistics and production stages, integrating suppliers, production plants, and customers into a cohesive network. This shift is largely driven by the globalization of the economy, fostering cooperation among partners in worldwide logistics networks. Optimizing the structure and operations of complex supply networks, including plants, suppliers, distribution centers, and customers, can yield significant cost savings. To enhance the performance of the entire logistics chain, more sophisticated planning systems and effective decision support are essential. Successful applications of supply chain management have led to the development of advanced planning systems (APS), which assist in decision-making at strategic, tactical, and operational levels. These software packages utilize quantitative methods to model complex decision problems, considering limited resources and the need for timely responses to customer orders. The core module at the mid-term level of APS focuses on operational supply chain planning, as production stages are often assigned to different plants, with distribution centers located in geographically dispersed areas.