Information and knowledge sharing in the collaborative design of planning systems within the forest products industry : survey, framework, and roadmap

Abstract

Forest products value chains (FPVC) are complex networks of units incorporating different goals and beliefs. These units need to work toCJ gether to generate the different elements of value. To study these value chains, a common representation and understanding of the different components of a value chain must be obtained. This will permit the evaluation of forest and industry strategies, supply chain configurations, and planning approaches using simulations. Agent-based modelling (ABM) is favoured to facilitate the assessment of different scenarios; however, information and knowledge sharing (IKS) in a collaborative modelling context remains an issue. This paper discusses the need for collaborative modelling and simulation of the FPVC and surveys the literature about the most significant standardization initiatives for IKS and ABM platforms, with focus on the FPVC. Then the key findings are explained, and a road map leading to defining a standard for value chain modelling is proposed.