According to Raj et al. (1992) the following
approaches to the modelling of logistic chains can
be distinguished: optimization, heuristics and
simulation. Brierly (1993) makes a different division
into deterministic approaches, functional/
stochastic approaches and artificial intelligence/
expert systems. Most of the logistic models in use
are based on optimization and simulation. A major
drawback of analytical models is the fact that
many assumptions are made to reduce the complexity,
to make the computation tractable, and
to reduce and/or ignore the many uncertainties
involved in the logistic chains. To overcome this
major drawback, simulation provides a good
means to analyse the performance of total logistic