Abstract
This study proposes an architecture (hardware and software) for real-time monitoring and control system for a cold supply chain. The architecture includes different physical components and how they are interconnected and their structure, behavior, functions, and decision-making processes. The system is based on RFID-WSN-GPS, where collected data are transferred in real time to a controller serving as a decision-making unit. The controller analyzes, stores, predicts, and intervenes whenever faults occur. Mathematical models corresponding to different supply chain configurations were developed in this study. Different cost components (such as products, transportation, lost sales, and inventory-related costs) and risk mitigation decisions (such as stopping transportation and rerouting shipments) are considered in the models. A case study of grape transportation was conducted. In this case study, four different supply chain configurations were compared to demonstrate the utility of the proposed system in terms of cost savings. The results show cost reductions of up to 3.39% depending on the different system configurations and the set of decisions considered. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of failure probability and cost components on cost savings.