Use of ontological structures for integrated supply chain management

Abstract

The integration of the different hierarchical decision making levels involved within a Chemical Supply Chain is essential for its adequate management in dynamic and competitive markets. Any approach encompassing design issues, planning, coordination and responses to customer demands, requires the consideration of huge amounts of data, which are a valuable source of information only if properly managed. But these data could also cause a lack of coordination if not stored and interpreted appropriately, so standardizing information structures and tools to improve the availability and communication of data information between different hierarchical decision levels is essential. Thus, this work addresses the problem of making the best use of the information systems associated to a Supply Chain, in order to improve the knowledge and the information comprehension capabilities in the area of Process Systems Engineering.