A Model and Polynomial Algorithm for Purchasing and Repositioning Containers. Issue 2 (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jami, Neil; Schröder, Michael; Küfer, Karl-Heinz
• Is Part Of: IFAC-PapersOnLine. Volume 49:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: Optimization Methods -- Discrete-Event -- Supply Chain Integration -- Management Issues -- Transport -- Empty Container Repositioning.; Automatic control -- Periodicals; 629.805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2016.03.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8963

Abstract

Abstract: We study the management of containers in a logistic chain between a supplier and a manufacturer in a ramp-up scenario with deterministic non-decreasing demand. We consider a periodic review system with T periods of R time steps. The supplier sends full containers at every step and receives empty containers every period. To face demand increase, the manufacturer can purchase containers at a setup cost while the supplier can buy single-use disposables. We assume positive delivery times. We formulate our problem as a fixed-plus-linear-cost flow and solve it under a realistic assumption in O ( R 2 · T 4 ·log[ R · T ] 2 ) time by adapting the Wagner-Within algorithm.