Recent COVID-19 events have highlighted the importance of safeguarding supply chains. A computer model developed by researchers at Kansas State University reveals supply chain vulnerabilities. For this study, the team focused on the beef supply chain.
The beef supply chain and transportation industries are interdependent critical infrastructures and need safeguarding according to a computer simulation model developed by Kansas State University researchers. Source: Kansas State University
The beef cattle industry contributes $8.9 billion to the Kansas economy and employs over 42,000 people in the state. Any disruption in the production and transportation process will harm the regional economy.
The agent-based model simulates beef cattle production and transportation in southwest Kansas. The beef production system and transportation industries are interdependent critical infrastructures. If one fails it can cause the other to fail. This is similar to the electrical grid and computer technology.
According to the model, disruptions in the cattle industry negatively affect the transportation industry. The disruptions modeled in the simulation share similarities with how packing plants are being affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study included a variety of viewpoints to create a realistic and integrated model of both systems. The model was used to evaluate which supply chain components were more robust and which were not. Researchers found that packing plants are the most vulnerable.
Packing plants play a critical role. Taking care of the plant workers and protecting their health is most important. Without healthy workers, the whole system collapses. Packers need to be considered a critical point of the larger supply chain and overall U.S infrastructure.
The model will help researchers create flexible and adaptable production processes that will survive an epidemic.
The team acknowledges that cattle from outside the region and interruptions may have larger national effects.
A paper on this computer model was published in Physical A.
