An Inventory Routing Problem for Perishable Products with Stochastic Demands and Direct Deliveries

• 出版年: International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Production Research
• 主要な著者: Seyed Mohammad Seyedhosseini, Mohammad Mahdavi Mazdeh, Ahmad Makui, Seyed Mohammad Ghoreyshi
• フォーマット: 論文
• 言語: 英語
• 出版事項: Iran University of Science & Technology 2016-03-01
• 主題: Distribution Planning; Perishable Products; Stochastic Dynamic Programming; Stochastic Inventory Routing Problem
• オンライン･アクセス: http://ijiepr.iust.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-189-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1

In any supply chain, distribution planning of products is of great importance to managers. With effective and flexible distribution planning, mangers can increase the efficiency of time, place, and delivery utility of whole supply chain. In this paper, inventory routing problem (IRP) is applied to distribution planning of perishable products in a supply chain. The studied supply chain is composed of two levels a supplier and customers. Customers’ locations are geographically around the supplier location and their demands are uncertain and follow an independent probability distribution functions. The product has pre-determined fixed life and is to be distributed among customers via a fleet of homogenous vehicles. The supplier uses direct routes for delivering products to customers. The objective is to determine when to deliver to each customer, how much to deliver to them, and how to assign them to vehicle and routes. The mentioned problem is formulated and solved using a stochastic dynamic programming approach. Also, a numerical example is given to illustrate the applicability of proposed approach.