Survivability of Multiagent-Based Supply Networks: A Topological Perspective

Supply chains involve complex Webs of interactions among suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, third-party logistics providers, retailers, and customers. Although fairly simple business processes govern these individual entities, real-time capabilities and global Internet connectivity make today's supply chains complex. Survivability is a critical factor in supply network design. Specifically, supply networks in dynamic environments, such as military supply chains during wartime, must be designed more for survivability than for cost effectiveness. We present a methodology for building survivable large-scale supply network topologies that can extend to other large-scale MASs. To create survivable-and hence dependable-multiagent systems, we must also consider the interplay between network topology and node functionalities.