distribution centers
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2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab Safaei ◽  
Peiman Ghasemi ◽  
Fariba Goodarzian ◽  
Mohsen Momenitabar

Abstract In the closed-loop supply chain, demand plays a critical role. The flow of materials and commodities in the opposite direction of the normal chain is inevitable too. So, in this paper, a new multi-echelon multi-period closed-loop supply chain network is addressed to minimize the total costs of the network. The considered echelons include suppliers, manufacturers, distribution centers, customers, and recycling and recovery units of components in the proposed network. Also, a linear programming model considering factories' vehicles and rental cars of transportation companies is formulated for the proposed problem. Moreover, the products demand is predicted by Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) time series model to decrease the amount of shortage may happens in the network. To solve the proposed model, GAMS software is used in small-sized problems and a genetic algorithm in large-sized problems is employed. Numerical results show that the proposed model is closer to the real situation and the proposed solution method is efficient. Accordingly, sensitivity analysis is performed on important parameters to show the performance of the proposed model.


2022 ◽  
pp. 111-123
Author(s):  
MD. B. Sarder ◽  
Sarah R. Sarder

Natural or manmade disasters can bring havoc to the healthcare industry in terms of poor services, out of stocks, cost overruns, and loss of lives. Specifically, the aftermath of disasters can be brutal if not managed properly. The quicker the healthcare providers recover, the lesser the impact would be. A resilient system has the potential to reduce the recovery time significantly. Healthcare providers under emergency scenarios may realize out-of-stock situations for their critical medical supplies. The out-of-stock supplies potentially cause poor patient care including death. COVID 19 is an unfortunate example where critical medical supplies were completely out for many medical providers and that had a serious negative impact on healthcare service deliveries. Healthcare providers needed to replenish their supplies from the overseas manufacturing plants, or central distribution centers, or unaffected regional distribution centers. Most of the times healthcare authorities struggle to secure critical medical supplies from other distribution centers due to operational and transportation issues. Depending on the disaster condition, sometimes many health care providers are beyond reach due to damaged transportation networks. This is the perfect time to share critical medical supplies from unaffected regions. Proven techniques like operation research can alleviate this situation. There are very few works that have been done in the field of healthcare service deliveries in case of a disaster. This chapter discusses the modeling techniques using operations research to improve the service levels while minimizing unsatisfied demand in the natural disaster-affected zones.


OR Spectrum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Ostermeier ◽  
Andreas Holzapfel ◽  
Heinrich Kuhn ◽  
Daniel Schubert

AbstractThe competitiveness of a retailer is highly dependent on an efficient distribution system. This is especially true for the supply of stores from distribution centers. Stores ask for high flexibility when it comes to their supply. This means that fast order processing is essential. Order processing affects different subsystems at the distribution center: orders are picked in multiple picking zones, transferred to intermediate storage, and delivered via dedicated tours. These processing steps are highly interdependent. The schedule for picking needs to be synchronized with the routing decisions to ensure availability of orders at the DC’s loading docks when their associated tours are scheduled. Concurrently, intermediate storage represents a bottleneck as capacity for order storage is limited. The simultaneous planning of picking and routing operations with restricted intermediate storage is therefore relevant for retail practice but has not so far been considered within an integrated planning approach. Our work addresses this task and discusses an integrated zone picking and vehicle routing problem with restricted intermediate storage. We present a comprehensive model formulation and introduce a general variable neighborhood search for simultaneous consideration of the given planning stages. We also present two alternative sequential approaches that are motivated by the prevailing planning situation in industry. Numerical experiments and a case study show the need for an integrated planning approach to obtain practicable results. Further, we identify the impact of the main problem characteristics on overall planning and provide valuable insights for the application of these findings in industry.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Maryam Khairunissa ◽  
Hyunsoo Lee

The location analysis of logistics distribution centers is one of the most critical issues in large-scale supply chains. While a number of algorithms and applications have been provided for this end, comparatively fewer investigations have been made into the integration of geographical information. This study proposes logistic distribution center location analysis that considers current geographic and embedded information gathered from a geographic information system (GIS). After reviewing the GIS, the decision variables and parameters are estimated using spatial analysis. These variables and parameters are utilized during mathematical problem-based analysis stage. While a number of existing algorithms have been proposed, this study applies a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm integrating particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA). Using the proposed method, a more realistic mathematical model is established and solved for accurate analysis of logistics performance. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, Korea Post distribution centers were considered in South Korea. Through tests with several real-world scenarios, it is proven experimentally that the proposed solution is more effective than existing PSO variations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Wenjia Zheng ◽  
Zhongyu Wang ◽  
Liucheng Sun

This paper explored the problem of collaborative vehicle routing in the urban ring logistics network (Co-VRP-URLN) during the COVID-19 epidemic. According to the characteristics of urban distribution and the restriction of traffic all over China during this period, this study mainly considers a common distribution mode of order exchange through the outer ring of the city and then solves the vehicle routing problem of distribution, which belongs to a special multidepot vehicle routing problem with time windows. According to the definition of the problem, the corresponding mixed-integer programming problem of multicommodity flow is established, and the variable neighborhood search algorithm is designed in detail to solve it. The effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by a standard example, and the benefits of joint distribution are revealed through the improved standard example. At last, the influence of different distribution centers is compared. The results show that this model can significantly improve the distribution efficiency within the city under the restriction of traffic.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Bashir Salah ◽  
Mohammed Alnahhal ◽  
Rafiq Ahmad

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) play a key role in improving the performance of automated manufacturing systems, warehouses, and distribution centers. In the modern manufacturing industry, the term (AS/RS) refers to various methods under computer control for storing and retrieving loads automatically from defined storage locations. Using an (AS/RS) is not considered a value-added activity. Therefore, the longer (AS/RS) travels, the more expensive the warehousing process becomes. This paper presents an algorithm for minimizing total travel distance/time between input/output (I/O) stations. The proposed algorithm is used to manage the storage and retrieval orders on warehouse shelves in class-based storage on the storage racks. It contains two steps: the first step is to evacuate some storage compartments (locations) near the I/O station; in the second step, some tote bins are reallocated to compartments closer to the I/O station. Among the features of this algorithm are mechanisms that determine the number of reallocated tote bins, which tote bins to reallocate, and in which direction (toward the I/O station or away from it). A simulation model using R software developed specifically for this purpose was used to validate the suggested method. Based on the results, the new method can reduce the service time per order by about 10% to 20%, depending on parameters like the number of orders and the height of the storage rack.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-yu Ke ◽  
Fynnwin Prager ◽  
Jose Martinez ◽  
Chris Cagle

This study explores the question of whether California's freight system is staying competitive with other US regions. A novel analytical framework compares supply chain performance metrics across multiple US states and regions for seaports, airports, highways, freight rail service, and distribution centers by combining the Performance Evaluation Matrix (PEM), Competitive Position Matrix (CPM), and Business Process Management (BPM) approaches. Analysis of industry data and responses from structured interviews with 30 freight industry experts across 5 transportation sectors suggests that California's freight system is competitive for seaports, airports, and freight rail; however, highways and distribution centers have room for improvement with respect to travel time reliability and operation costs, and California should prioritize infrastructure investments here. To stay competitive with the Texas and North East regions, state investments could also expand seaport container terminals and air cargo handling facilities, improve intermodal port connections and management of flows of chassis, container trucks, empty containers to ameliorate cargo backlogs and congestion on highways, at the ports, and at warehouses. The state could also invest in inland ports, transporting goods by rail directly from seaports to the Inland Empire or Central Valley.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Cheraghalipour ◽  
Emad Roghanian

Abstract In today's competitive marketplace, to increase customer satisfaction and profitability, supply chain management has become more prominent. Therefore, thorough planning and designing the supply chain by seeing all levels and units are essential to growing the efficiency of the entire supply chain. In the present study, an eight-echelon network is designed for a closed-loop agricultural supply chain. These eight echelons are consist of suppliers, farms, distribution centers (DCs), customers, recycling depots, biogas centers, compost production centers, and biogas applicants. To design the agricultural logistics network, a bi-level programming mathematical model is presented that optimizes the network costs and profits. Also, some meta-heuristics and hybrid meta-heuristics are applied for solving the formulated problem. It should be noted that bi-level programming problems are part of the NP-hard class and due to the computational complexity of the problems, the meta-heuristic algorithms are utilized. Finally, various comparisons and analyses are performed to evaluate the model's performance and the capabilities of the solution methods.


2021 ◽  
pp. 4-14
Author(s):  
Liliia O. Khodakivska ◽  
Yuliia M. Hrybovska ◽  
Zhanna A. Kononenko

The purpose of the research is to study the benefits and potential problems of using Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) in the warehouse management and inventory supplychain management. Methodology. In the process of writing this article a few various types of the observation, timing, motional, inventory, and historical methods (describing present time limitations of the current inventory tracking system compare to the benefits and obstacles of the proposed new generation inventory management system) were used. To support our conclusion, we used data from the sampling research conducting on the premises of six distribution centers. Generalized results of this study helped us to create a comparison between deployment of the system with the use of just RFID tags, just barcodes, and a hybrid technology, were both types of the inventory markings were incorporated. Results. As it was predicted even before the research begins, the result of the study proved that use of the RFID technology significantly improved reliability of the inventory system by reducing number of out-ofstock (OOS) items, improved speed of the data collection and reduce amount and time of the manual work. It was also determined that RFID technology will help companies to better manage day-to-day inventory operations. The overall results suggested that use of the RFID technology will help companies to reduce fixed and variable costs associated with the daily operation of the inventory management system. However, it was also found that RFID system is not prone to the problems related to the breakage of the equipment and tags themselves. It is also worth to take into account a cost of RFID tags compares to the barcodes or two-dimensional barcodes. If a medium size company will decide to switch to the RFID technology completely, the cost of the switch might not overweight the saving the company will have. In this case a possible solution might be two-dimensional barcodes. Practical meaning. We hope that results of the study, our observations, and comments will help businesses to evaluate deployment of the RFID technology better, understand some unrecognized pro and cons of it and find possible ways to improve on the current systems by using advantages of multiple inventory solutions. Prospects for further research. Consideration should be given to a possible research of the security of the RFID technology, safety of the protocols it uses to collect and transmit data, and, finally, a possibility of the external intrusion and malicious data manipulations and the ways to prevent it.


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