Purpose – The article aims at presenting a study into strategies of strengthening the resistance in a network supply chain of metallurgic products. The research was carried out in the years 2011-2013. Network supply chains include key chain links for building the resistance. These chain links affect material flows of the whole supply chain through silencing disruptions. Those predisposed to form a strategy strengthening the resistance of the whole network supply chain are organizations fulfilling the assumptions of material decoupling points.
Design/methodology/approach – The research is carried out in two stages: the stage of constructing an analytical model and the stage of constructing three simulation models corresponding to the distinguished variants of strengthening the resistance based. The first stage of the research aimed at indicating possible variants of the strategy of building the resistance of a network supply chain. At the second stage the authors carried out simulation experiments based on three models built in the management system dynamics technique (VensimDSS). The proposed methodology required constructing original tools for measuring disruptions and factors strengthening the disruptions in the form of cards for measuring disruptions.
Originality/value –The value added is grouping of disruptions in risk factors distinguished in terms of the frequency of the occurrence of disruptions and their results. The authors proposed and defined the notion of zones of strengthening disruptions. The zones are formed from sets of factors strengthening disruptions with similar influence on disruptions. In modelling of material flows in the context of the strategy of strengthening the resistance the authors proposed an assessment of the efficiency through elements of logistic customer service: the completeness, the punctuality of realized orders. In simulation experiments, the authors strived to reduce lost sales resulting from deviations in punctuality and completeness.
Practical implications – The proposed approach of gathering knowledge which will allow modelling material flows and constructing the strategy of strengthening the resistance of a network supply chain was verified in a selected organization fulfilling the assumptions of the material decoupling point of a network supply chain of metallurgic products. The IT system composed of a module for identification of disruptions in material flows and a simulation model is a proposal dedicated to organizations controlling material flows in a network supply chain in the conditions of disruptions.
Keywords – gathering knowledge, material decoupling point, network supply chain., resistance