# Root Cause Attribution of Delivery Risks via Causal Discovery with Reinforcement Learning

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.05860 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.05860/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 13 of its 43 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 11 Aug 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [Attention Is All You Need](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.03762/) (2017)
- [Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1512.03385/) (2015)
- [Estimating or Propagating Gradients Through Stochastic Neurons for Conditional Computation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1308.3432/) (2013)
- [DAGs with NO TEARS: Continuous Optimization for Structure Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1803.01422/) (2018)
- [Causal Discovery with Continuous Additive Noise Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1309.6779/) (2013)
- [Reinforcement learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.10369/) (2024)
- [Causal Discovery with Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1906.04477/) (2019)
- [A fast PC algorithm for high dimensional causal discovery with multi-core PCs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1502.02454/) (2015)
- [Research on Autonomous Driving Decision-making Strategies based Deep Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.03084/) (2024)
- [Attention Mechanism and Context Modeling System for Text Mining Machine Translation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.04216/) (2024)
- [On the Global Convergence of Risk-Averse Natural Policy Gradient Methods with Expected Conditional Risk Measures](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.10932/) (2023)
- [Risk-Averse Reinforcement Learning via Dynamic Time-Consistent Risk Measures](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.05981/) (2023)
- [On the Approximation and Convergence of Distributional Policy Gradient Algorithms for Risk-Sensitive Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.14749/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Adaptive Self-Supervised Learning Strategies for Dynamic On-Device LLM Personalization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.16973/) (2024)
- [A Theoretical Framework for Graph-based Digital Twins for Supply Chain Management and Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.03692/) (2025)
- [What if? Causal Machine Learning in Supply Chain Risk Management](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.13556/) (2024)
- [A generative machine learning model for designing metal hydrides applied to hydrogen storage](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.20892/) (2026)
- [When Does Machine Learning Beat Value Sorting? A Three-Dataset Diagnostic of Exposure-Weighted Shipment Prioritization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.18573/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

This paper presents a novel approach to root cause attribution of delivery risks within supply chains by integrating causal discovery with reinforcement learning. As supply chains become increasingly complex, traditional methods of root cause analysis struggle to capture the intricate interrelationships between various factors, often leading to spurious correlations and suboptimal decision-making. Our approach addresses these challenges by leveraging causal discovery to identify the true causal relationships between operational variables, and reinforcement learning to iteratively refine the causal graph. This method enables the accurate identification of key drivers of late deliveries, such as shipping mode and delivery status, and provides actionable insights for optimizing supply chain performance. We apply our approach to a real-world supply chain dataset, demonstrating its effectiveness in uncovering the underlying causes of delivery delays and offering strategies for mitigating these risks. The findings have significant implications for improving operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall profitability within supply chains.
