Supply Chain Trade-Offs Simulator

Supply Chain Trade-Offs Simulator

MIT License © 2025 Alvin J Lin

Preset Scenarios

⚙️ Trade-off Weights

Adjust how changes in one metric influence others. Positive values = same direction, negative = opposite. Range: −1 to +1

From To Weight Value

📚 Understanding the Model

This simulator models real-world supply chain trade-offs. Improving one dimension often creates pressure elsewhere. Each gauge interacts based on typical supply chain dynamics.

Key Relationships

  • Cost: Higher cost can improve service through expedited inventory or capacity, but reduces cash and efficiency
  • Service: Better service requires investment in inventory and infrastructure, increasing costs
  • Resilience: Building resilience through redundancy and buffers improves service but increases complexity and cost
  • Efficiency: Operational efficiency reduces costs and complexity while freeing up cash
  • Complexity: More SKUs and specifications increase costs and reduce efficiency, but can improve resilience through alternatives
  • Cash: Improving cash flow means reducing inventory, which can impact service levels unless offset by agility

Example Scenarios

Efficiency Drive: Optimizing operations lowers costs and complexity, freeing up working capital.

Resilience Focus: Building supply chain resilience strengthens service reliability but may reduce efficiency and increase costs.

Cash Optimisation: Reducing inventory improves cash conversion but can squeeze service unless balanced with supply chain agility.