A multi-objective healthcare inventory routing problem; a fuzzy possibilistic approach. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Niakan, Farzad; Rahimi, Mohammad
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 80(2015)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Inventory routing problem -- Healthcare -- Fuzzy mathematical programming -- Possibilistic programming -- Fuzzy multi-objective optimization; Logistics -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2015.04.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1366-5545

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents a new multi-objective mathematical model to address a Healthcare Inventory Routing Problem (HIRP) for medicinal drug distribution to healthcare facilities. The first part of objective function minimizes total inventory and transportation costs, while satisfaction is maximized by minimizing forecast error which caused by product shortage and the amount of expired drugs; Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are also minimized. A demand forecast approach has been integrated into the mathematical model to decrease drug shortage risk. A hybridized possibilistic method is applied to cope with uncertainty and an interactive fuzzy approach is considered to solve an auxiliary crisp multi-objective model and find optimized solutions.