S.M.T. Fatemi Ghomi and B. Asgarian
Finding a rational approach to maintain a freshness of foods and perishable goods and saving their intrinsic attributes during a distribution of these products is one of the main…
Abstract
Purpose
Finding a rational approach to maintain a freshness of foods and perishable goods and saving their intrinsic attributes during a distribution of these products is one of the main issues for distribution and logistics companies. This paper aims to provide a framework for distribution of perishable goods which can be applied for real life situations.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a novel mathematical model for transportation inventory location routing problem. In addition, the paper addresses the impact of perishable goods age on the demand of final customers. The model is optimally solved for small- and medium-scale problems. Moreover, regarding to NP-hard nature of the proposed model, two simple and one hybrid metaheuristic algorithms are developed to cope with the complexity of problem in large scale problems.
Findings
Numerical examples with different scenarios and sensitivity analysis are conducted to investigate the performance of proposed algorithms and impacts of important parameters on optimal solutions. The results show the acceptable performance of proposed algorithms.
Originality/value
The authors formulate a novel mathematical model which can be applicable in perishable goods distribution systems In this regard, the authors consider lost sale which is proportional to age of products. A new hybrid approach is applied to tackle the problem and the results show the rational performance of the algorithm.
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M. Khojaste-Sarakhsi, Seyed Hassan Ghodsypour, S.M.T. Fatemi Ghomi and H. Dashtaki-Hesari
The purpose of this paper is to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of energy efficiency improvement of Iran building sector and develop strategies…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of energy efficiency improvement of Iran building sector and develop strategies based on them and finally prioritize these strategies according to experts’ judgments. This SWOT analysis is developed based on a detailed study in Iran energy market along with consulting with several energy specialists and has not been conducted before.
Design/methodology/approach
Since SWOT analysis is not capable to rank the developed strategies, analytical network process method is applied to prioritize them according to experts’ judgments. Results are compared with the results of the hierarchical network process (AHP).
Findings
Numerical results show that modification of the energy tariff system is the most important strategy. Besides this strategy, four other ones are related to the role of government in Iran energy market, while the remaining ones can be accomplished by domestic or international companies. They are about worn out appliances, inefficient buildings and inefficient lighting systems.
Originality/value
The SWOT analysis and the developed strategies can provide an insight into the improvement of buildings’ energy efficiency in Iran and some similar countries. All the developed strategies have two sides. One is the regulatory and supporting role of the government and the other is about the investment and implementation considerations. As most of the required rules have been established, the ground is prepared for domestic or international investors to start or develop their energy-related businesses in Iran market.
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Mahmoud Awad, Malick Ndiaye and Ahmed Osman
Cold supply chain (CSC) distribution systems are vital in preserving the integrity and freshness of transported temperature sensitive products. CSC is also known to be energy…
Abstract
Purpose
Cold supply chain (CSC) distribution systems are vital in preserving the integrity and freshness of transported temperature sensitive products. CSC is also known to be energy intensive with a significant emission footprint. As a result, CSC requires strict monitoring and control management system during storage and transportation to improve safety and reduce profit losses. In this research, a systematic review of recent literature related to the distribution of food CSC products is presented and possible areas to extend research in modeling and decision-making are identified.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper analyzes the content of 65 recent articles related to CSC and perishable foods. Several relevant keywords were used in the initial search, which generated a list of 214 articles. The articles were screened based on content relevance in terms of food vehicle routing modeling and quality. Selected articles were categorized and analyzed based on cost elements, modeling framework and solution approach. Finally, recommendations for future research are suggested.
Findings
The review identified several research gaps in CSC logistics literature, where more focused research is warranted. First, the review suggests that dynamic vehicle modeling and routing while considering products quality and environmental impacts is still an open area for research. Second, there is no consensus among researchers in terms of quality degradation models used to assess the freshness of transported cold food. As a result, an investigation of critical parameters and quality modeling is warranted. Third, and due to the problem complexity, there is a need for developing heuristics and metaheuristics to solve such models. Finally, there is a need for extending the single product single compartment CSC to multi-compartment multi-temperature routing modeling.
Originality/value
The article identified possible areas to extend research in CSC distribution modeling and decision-making. Modified models that reflect real applications will help practitioners, food authorities and researchers make timely and more accurate decisions that will reduce food waste and improve the freshness of transported food.
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Maedeh Bank, Mohammad Mahdavi Mazdeh, Mahdi Heydari and Ebrahim Teimoury
The aim of this paper is to present a method for finding the optimum balance between sequence-dependent setup costs, holding costs, delivery costs and delay penalties in an…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to present a method for finding the optimum balance between sequence-dependent setup costs, holding costs, delivery costs and delay penalties in an integrated production–distribution system with lot sizing decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
Two mixed integer linear programming models and an optimality property are proposed for the problem. Since the problem is NP-hard, a genetic algorithm reinforced with a heuristic is developed for solving the model in large-scale settings. The algorithm parameters are tuned using the Taguchi method.
Findings
The results obtained on randomly generated instances reveal a performance advantage for the proposed algorithm; it is shown that lot sizing can reduce the average cost of the supply chain up to 11.8%. Furthermore, the effects of different parameters and factors of the proposed model on supply chain costs are examined through a sensitivity analysis.
Originality/value
Although integrated production and distribution scheduling in make-to-order industries has received a great deal of attention from researchers, most researchers in this area have treated each order as a job processed in an uninterrupted time interval, and no temporary holding costs are assumed. Even among the few studies where temporary holding costs are taken into consideration, none has examined the effect of splitting an order at the production stage (lot sizing) and the possibility of reducing costs through splitting. The present study is the first to take holding costs into consideration while incorporating lot sizing decisions in the operational production and distribution problem.
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Fabian Akkerman, Eduardo Lalla-Ruiz, Martijn Mes and Taco Spitters
Cross-docking is a supply chain distribution and logistics strategy for which less-than-truckload shipments are consolidated into full-truckload shipments. Goods are stored up to…
Abstract
Cross-docking is a supply chain distribution and logistics strategy for which less-than-truckload shipments are consolidated into full-truckload shipments. Goods are stored up to a maximum of 24 hours in a cross-docking terminal. In this chapter, we build on the literature review by Ladier and Alpan (2016), who reviewed cross-docking research and conducted interviews with cross-docking managers to find research gaps and provide recommendations for future research. We conduct a systematic literature review, following the framework by Ladier and Alpan (2016), on cross-docking literature from 2015 up to 2020. We focus on papers that consider the intersection of research and industry, e.g., case studies or studies presenting real-world data. We investigate whether the research has changed according to the recommendations of Ladier and Alpan (2016). Additionally, we examine the adoption of Industry 4.0 practices in cross-docking research, e.g., related to features of the physical internet, the Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems in cross-docking methodologies or case studies. We conclude that only small adaptations have been done based on the recommendations of Ladier and Alpan (2016), but we see growing attention for Industry 4.0 concepts in cross-docking, especially for physical internet hubs.
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Leila Hashemi, Armin Mahmoodi, Milad Jasemi, Richard C. Millar and Jeremy Laliberté
In the present research, location and routing problems, as well as the supply chain, which includes manufacturers, distributor candidate sites and retailers, are explored. The…
Abstract
Purpose
In the present research, location and routing problems, as well as the supply chain, which includes manufacturers, distributor candidate sites and retailers, are explored. The goal of addressing the issue is to reduce delivery times and system costs for retailers so that routing and distributor location may be determined.
Design/methodology/approach
By adding certain unique criteria and limits, the issue becomes more realistic. Customers expect simultaneous deliveries and pickups, and retail service start times have soft and hard time windows. Transportation expenses, noncompliance with the soft time window, distributor construction, vehicle purchase or leasing, and manufacturing costs are all part of the system costs. The problem's conceptual model is developed and modeled first, and then General Algebraic Modeling System software (GAMS) and Multiple Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGAII) algorithms are used to solve it in small dimensions.
Findings
According to the mathematical model's solution, the average error of the two suggested methods, in contrast to the exact answer, is less than 0.7%. In addition, the performance of algorithms in terms of deviation from the GAMS exact solution is pretty satisfactory, with a divergence of 0.4% for the biggest problem (N = 100). As a result, NSGAII is shown to be superior to MOSPSO.
Research limitations/implications
Since this paper deals with two bi-objective models, the priorities of decision-makers in selecting the best solution were not taken into account, and each of the objective functions was given an equal weight based on the weighting procedures. The model has not been compared or studied in both robust and deterministic modes. This is because, with the exception of the variable that indicates traffic mode uncertainty, all variables are deterministic, and the uncertainty character of demand in each level of the supply chain is ignored.
Practical implications
The suggested model's conclusions are useful for any group of decision-makers concerned with optimizing production patterns at any level. The employment of a diverse fleet of delivery vehicles, as well as the use of stochastic optimization techniques to define the time windows, demonstrates how successful distribution networks are in lowering operational costs.
Originality/value
According to a multi-objective model in a three-echelon supply chain, this research fills in the gaps in the link between routing and location choices in a realistic manner, taking into account the actual restrictions of a distribution network. The model may reduce the uncertainty in vehicle performance while choosing a refueling strategy or dealing with diverse traffic scenarios, bringing it closer to certainty. In addition, two modified MOPSO and NSGA-II algorithms are presented for solving the model, with the results compared to the exact GAMS approach for medium- and small-sized problems.
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Hwa-Joong Kim, Eun-Kyung Yu, Kwang-Tae Kim and Tae-Seung Kim
Dynamic lot sizing is the problem of determining the quantity and timing of ordering items while satisfying the demand over a finite planning horizon. This paper considers the…
Abstract
Dynamic lot sizing is the problem of determining the quantity and timing of ordering items while satisfying the demand over a finite planning horizon. This paper considers the problem with two practical considerations: minimum order size and lost sales. The minimum order size is the minimum amount of items that should be purchased and lost sales involve situations in which sales are lost because items are not on hand or when it becomes more economical to lose the sale rather than making the sale. The objective is to minimize the costs of ordering, item , inventory holding and lost sale over the planning horizon. To solve the problem, we suggest a heuristic algorithm by considering trade-offs between cost factors. Computational experiments on randomly generated test instances show that the algorithm quickly obtains near-optimal solutions.
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Abdul Wahab Hashmi, Harlal Singh Mali and Anoj Meena
The purpose of this paper is to study the functionality of additively manufactured (AM) parts, mainly depending on their dimensional accuracy and surface finish. However, the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the functionality of additively manufactured (AM) parts, mainly depending on their dimensional accuracy and surface finish. However, the products manufactured using AM usually suffer from defects like roughness or uneven surfaces. This paper discusses the various surface quality improvement techniques, including how to reduce surface defects, surface roughness and dimensional accuracy of AM parts.
Design/methodology/approach
There are many different types of popular AM methods. Unfortunately, these AM methods are susceptible to different kinds of surface defects in the product. As a result, pre- and postprocessing efforts and control of various AM process parameters are needed to improve the surface quality and reduce surface roughness.
Findings
In this paper, the various surface quality improvement methods are categorized based on the type of materials, working principles of AM and types of finishing processes. They have been divided into chemical, thermal, mechanical and hybrid-based categories.
Research limitations/implications
The review has evaluated the possibility of various surface finishing methods for enhancing the surface quality of AM parts. It has also discussed the research perspective of these methods for surface finishing of AM parts at micro- to nanolevel surface roughness and better dimensional accuracy.
Originality/value
This paper represents a comprehensive review of surface quality improvement methods for both metals and polymer-based AM parts.
Graphical abstract of surface quality improvement methods
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Somayeh Fadaei and Alireza Pooya
The purpose of this paper is to apply fuzzy spectrum in order to collect the vague and imprecise data and to employ the fuzzy U control chart in variable sample size using fuzzy…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to apply fuzzy spectrum in order to collect the vague and imprecise data and to employ the fuzzy U control chart in variable sample size using fuzzy rules. This approach is improved and developed by providing some new rules.
Design/methodology/approach
The fuzzy operating characteristic (FOC) curve is applied to investigate the performance of the fuzzy U control chart. The application of FOC presents fuzzy bounds of operating characteristic (OC) curve whose width depends on the ambiguity parameter in control charts.
Findings
To illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach, a practical example is provided. Comparing performances of control charts indicates that OC curve of the crisp chart has been located between the FOC bounds, near the upper bound; as a result, for the crisp control chart, the probability of the type II error is of significant level. Also, a comparison of the crisp OC curve with OCavg curve and FOCα curve approved that the probability of the type II error for the crisp chart is more than the same amount for the fuzzy chart. Finally, the efficiency of the fuzzy chart is more than the crisp chart, and also it timely gives essential alerts by means of linguistic terms. Consequently, it is more capable of detecting process shifts.
Originality/value
This research develops the fuzzy U control chart with variable sample size whose output is fuzzy. After creating control charts, performance evaluation in the industry is important. The main contribution of this paper is to employs the FOC curve for evaluating the performance of the fuzzy control chart, while in prior studies in this area, the performance of fuzzy control chart has not been evaluated.