SCML: An information framework to support supply chain modeling

We develop an open information standard to assist supply chain modeling, analysis, and decision support. The Supply Chain Modeling Language (SCML) is a platform- and methodology-independent Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based markup language for storing supply chain structural and managerial information. SCML enables supply chain problem instance reuse and sharing, provides a common format for analytical software interoperability, and can improve the quality of the supply chain description. We develop several pieces of software to aid both users and developers in the utilization of SCML. We demonstrate SCML's applicability by developing a supply chain simulation tool (SISCO) that utilizes the SCML format. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.