Optimization models in emergency logistics: A literature review

Optimization modeling has become a powerful tool to tackle emergency logistics problems since its first adoption in maritime disaster situations in the 1970s. Using techniques of content analysis, this paper reviews optimization models utilized in emergency logistics. Disaster operations can be performed before or after disaster occurrence. Short-notice evacuation, facility location, and stock pre-positioning are drafted as the main pre-disaster operations, while relief distribution and casualty transportation are categorized as post-disaster operations. According to these operations, works in the literature are broken down into three parts: facility location, relief distribution and casualty transportation, and other operations. For the first two parts, the literature is structured and analyzed based on the model types, decisions, objectives, and constraints. Finally, through the content analysis framework, several research gaps are identified and future research directions are proposed.     

Modeling integrated supply chain logistics in real-time large-scale disaster relief operations

The goal of this research is to develop a comprehensive model that describes the integrated logistics operations in response to natural disasters. We propose a mathematical model that controls the flow of several relief commodities from the sources through the supply chain and until they are delivered to the hands of recipients. The structure of the network is in compliance with FEMA's complex logistics structure. The proposed model not only considers details such as vehicle routing and pick up or delivery schedules; but also considers finding the optimal locations for several layers of temporary facilities as well as considering several capacity constraints for each facility and the transportation system. Such an integrated model provides the opportunity for a centralized operation plan that can eliminate delays and assign the limited resources to the best possible use.A set of numerical experiments is designed to test the proposed formulation and evaluate the properties of the optimization problem. The numerical analysis shows the capabilities of the model to handle the large-scale relief operations with adequate details. However, the problem size and difficulty grows rapidly by extending the length of the operations or when the equity among recipients is considered. In these cases, it is suggested to find fast solution algorithms and heuristic methods in future research.     

基于反馈控制原理的应急物资分配动态决策过程分析

随着灾害应急物流系统快速响应机制的建立,应急物资分配在降低自然灾害的影响方面体现出重要作用。应急物资需求具有突发性和动态性等特征,资源的分配是一个动态的过程。基于此借鉴反馈控制原理构建应急物资分配决策模型,对灾害应急物流中的应急物资分配动态决策过程进行分析。     

Analysis and forecast of donations at domestic hunger relief organizations impacted by natural disasters

Food banks are non-profit, charitable organizations that distribute food and products to people in need. Food bank facilities become disaster relief centers after natural disasters. The uncertainty associated with the arrival of donations and demand make the planning and operations of food banks challenging during the disaster relief period. The goal of this research is to analyse and forecast the amount of donations received by food bank facilities in the U.S. when operating as disaster relief centers. This paper analyses the donations received by two food bank facilities affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. An extensive numerical study is performed that compares the donation behavior at each facility before and after the hurricane event. Multiple forecasting models are evaluated to determine their accuracy in predicting the observed behavior. The results show that under disaster operations, the best performing techniques for both food banks were smoothing techniques (i.e., CMA and Holt) and econometric models.     

Bi-criteria solid transportation problem with substitutable and damageable items in disaster response operations on fuzzy rough environment

Successful planning and scheduling of relief operations play a key role in saving lives and reducing damage in disasters. These disaster operations involve a variety of challenging multi-objective optimization problems, for which soft computing methods are well suited. In this investigation, relief materials and human resources are transported from some distribution centers (DCs) to some delivery points (DPs) through conveyances. The objectives are to minimize both total cost and time for transportation. Some particular models for (a) substitutable items (b) damageable items and (c) safety Factor have been derived. To convert bi-criteria solid transportation problem into a single objective problem, three different techniques (i) Fuzzy interactive satisficing method, (ii) Global Criterion Method and (iii) Convex Combination Method are used. Then the reduced single objective problem is solved by a non-linear optimization technique – Generalized reduced gradient method using LINGO-14.0. The models are illustrated through some numerical examples and optimal results are presented in tabular forms.     

The Emerging Role of Higher Education in Educating and Assessing Future Leaders for Disaster Relief

As the frequency and intensity of disasters throughout the world increase, so do the demands for humanitarian relief and the need for effective disaster‐based leadership training. Numerous organizations are poised to act in response to disasters that necessitate a significant amount of leadership and logistics support. Although there are many entities often involved in disaster relief, the symposium outlines the emerging role higher education can play in improving response outcomes, not only by providing “boots on the ground” but also by developing skilled disaster relief leaders in both curricular and cocurricular venues. Institutions of higher education provide experiential learning opportunities offering critical service for immediate disaster relief while developing the skills of future leaders. During these experiences, students develop disaster‐based leadership and logistics acumen. Similarly, programmatic assessment is critical in measuring student leadership growth during the experiential learning process of providing disaster relief. The education and assessment of these trainings provides an important dimension of disaster leadership as it examines the leaders in action and fosters a commitment to adequately prepare them to lead in a time of disaster. A qualitative approach is recommended for assessing experiential leadership learning to better inform teaching and to cultivate future disaster leadership that meets ongoing global needs.     

应急物流中军事运输优化决策

在应急物流中,军事运输占有重要的地位,直接影响到应急物流的成败。运用运筹学的理论和方法,充分考虑应急物流的环境因素,把握影响应急物流中军事运输决策的各个要素,综合分析军事运输中的任务指派、运输方式的确定、运输路线的选择,并建立对应的数学模型,进行军事运输决策,制定出最优或近似最优的物资运输方案,为军事运输的决策过程提供了一种新的方法。     

Improving road transport operations through lean thinking: a case study

Traditionally, logistics and transportation problems have been addressed through mathematical modelling, operations research, and simulation, but criticism has emerged about their effectiveness to actually address real-life problems. This paper documents a case study whereby the road transport operations of a leading Mexican brewery were improved through lean thinking and waste reduction. Two lean-based principles and tools were combined: the Seven Transportation Extended Wastes and Transportation Value Stream Mapping. Three systematic steps were proposed to facilitate the implementation of improvement. Feasibility studies conducted in this research suggested that lean thinking is an effective alternative for the improvement of road transport operations. The findings of this research could be used as guidance for transport managers to improve road transport operations. This paper also expands the limited evidence of the application of lean thinking in road transport logistics and highlights the research areas where its application has been concentrated in this sector.     

Integrative retail logistics: An exploratory study

Grocery retail companies have gone through a transformational change in the past by heavily investing in distribution centers of their own and by expanding their logistics activities. As a result, many retailers are now in the process of better adjusting their logistics operations to their specific requirements against the backdrop of raising pressure in a highly competitive environment. In this light, we provide an exploratory study based on semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 28 leading European grocery retailers. First we examine the current strategic designs of grocery retailers’ internal logistics networks. Next, we shift our focus to the resulting interdependencies in tactical supply chain planning between instore operations and upstream logistics processes. We have identified five interdependent planning issues: order packaging unit, store delivery pattern, store replenishment lead time, store delivery arrival times and arrival time windows, as well as roll-cage sequencing and loading carriers. Each of these mid-term planning interdependencies is evaluated with regard to implications in the stores, in transportation and in the distribution centers. The mid-term operations planning issues in the grocery retail industry considered in this paper have remained practically unexplored up to now. The outcome of this empirical research study therefore has substantial relevance for future retail research and practice.     

On the unique features of post-disaster humanitarian logistics

Logistic activity can be thought of as a socio-technical process whereby a social network of individuals orchestrates a series of technical activities using supporting systems such as transportation and communications. To understand the functioning of the entire system requires proper consideration of all its components. We identify seven key components: the objectives being pursued, the origin of the commodity flows to be transported, knowledge of demand, the decision-making structure, periodicity and volume of logistic activities, and the state of the social networks and supporting systems. Based on our analysis of the differences between commercial and humanitarian logistics, we pinpoint research gaps that need to be filled to enhance both the efficiency of humanitarian logistics and the realism of the mathematical models designed to support it.We argue that humanitarian logistics is too broad a field to fit neatly into a single definition of operational conditions. At one end of the spectrum we find humanitarian logistic efforts of the kind conducted in long-term disaster recovery and humanitarian assistance, where operational efficiency – akin to commercial logistics – is a prime consideration. At the other, post-disaster humanitarian logistic operations involved in disaster response and short-term recovery activities represent a vastly different operational environment, often in chaotic settings where urgent needs, life-or-death decisions and scarce resources are the norm. The huge contrast between these operational environments requires that they be treated separately.     

基于AHP—Fuzzy的第三方物流企业仓库综合评价选址模型

第三方物流企业仓库的分布对物流企业本身的运作与盈利有至关重要的影响。仓库合理的选址能够减少货物运输费用．从而大大降低运营成本。因此,规划仓库的选址地点是一项重要的决策问题。作者采用层次分析法与模糊数学相结合的AHP-Fuzzv综合评价方法对物流企业仓库选址进行评价研究,进而提出一般物流企业在进行仓库选址决策时可参考的决策模型。     

Dynamic inventory decisions for humanitarian aid materials considering budget limitations

In case of disaster, providing relief supplies to the affected people has vital importance. Governmental or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) prepare for disasters by purchasing and stockpiling these aid materials in appropriate quantities. They operate under a limited budget and this budget can either be used before the disaster for stocking decisions under uncertainty or it can be used after the disaster to satisfy the required demand at a higher cost when the uncertainty is resolved. If all the budget is used before the disaster, and if there is no disaster in a long term, there will be a high holding cost. On the other hand, if all the budget is reserved for use after the disaster, meeting the demand will be more costly or the demand may not be met within a certain period of time. Thus, NGOs need to decide how to allocate the budget for pre and post-disaster usage. In this system, the budget of NGOs may also change over time through donations or other incomes. In this point of view, NGOs need to make dynamic stock and budget allocation decisions, under the available budget at hand. In our study, we analyze the dynamic stocking decisions of NGOs using stochastic dynamic programming formulations under budget constraints. We develop infinite horizon stochastic dynamic programming models with and without budget considerations, and compare the results of these models via numerical analysis. Detailed numerical studies and results of the sensitivity analysis show the significance of budget considerations in inventory decisions and the effects of different parameters on the system results.     

考虑交通区位的物流配送中心选址模型及求解

从交通运输系统的角度出发,物流配送中心选址在考虑物流规划部门与客户之间利益分配问题的基础上。还应该考虑到交通区位优势给物流配送中心运营带来的便利性。在已有双层规划模型的基础上进行改进,通过在模型中设立相关参数来描述交通区位产生的影响。建立了考虑交通区位的物流配送中心选址双层规划模型,同时还考虑到竞争的存在。笔者设计了基于遗传算法的模型求解算法,最后通过一算例来对比验证模型及其算法的可行性。在物流配送中心选址时利用交通区位优势能大大提高其运营效率及效益。     

开放合作下传统运输企业向现代物流企业的转型模式研究

文中研究以在开放合作的环境下传统运输业如何向现代物流的转型作为研究对象，探讨了传统运输业与现代物流的关系，传统运输企业的转型所面临的主要问题，总结出传统运输企业向现代物流转型的四种模式，并应用SWOT方法分析了四种模式各自适用的情形。     

A logistics model for emergency supply of critical items in the aftermath of a disaster

This paper proposes a logistics model for delivery of prioritized items in disaster relief operations. It considers multi-items, multi-vehicles, multi-periods, soft time windows, and a split delivery strategy scenario, and is formulated as a multi-objective integer programming model. To effectively solve this model we limit the number of available tours. Two heuristic approaches are introduced for this purpose. The first approach is based on a genetic algorithm, while the second approach is developed by decomposing the original problem. We compare these two approaches via a computational study. The multi-objective problem is converted to a single-objective problem by the weighted sum method. A case study is presented to illustrate the potential applicability of our model. Also, presented is a comparison of our model with that proposed in a recent paper by Balcik et al. [6]. The results show that our proposed model outperforms theirs in terms of delivering prioritized items over several time periods.     

物流配送问题的研究文献统计与综述

针对2000-2008年关于物流配送问题的研究文献进行梳理和分析,按研究内容分为物流配送中心选址、系统内部作业与管理、专业市场物流配送模式、配送中心布局与建设、基于电子商务的物流配送、物流配送路径优化和物流配送车辆调度等七类,按研究方法分为运筹学方法、仿真技术、评价方法、单一遗传算法、遗传算法与其它方法结合、其它启发式算法、其它定量方法、现状分析与对策建议等八类,根据各类的研究统计,提出进一步研究的方向。     

基于DEA分析法的港口物流效率测评研究

港口物流效率测评对于研究港口经营活动具有重要的意义,是衡量港口竞争能力以及经济效应的重要指标。文章将从宏观层面以及微观层面,并运用非参数化方法中的DEA方法对港口的物流效率进行测评。在宏观层面上运用DEA方法分析港口腹地产业与交通体系的投入量对港口吞吐量产生的影响;在微观层面采用DEA方法分析港口相关生产投入与产出指标来判定港口生产技术与规模的有效性。文章的研究价值在于,通过分析港口各种要素投入与产出的有效性可以测评出港口物流效率的实际水平状况,为港口未来的建设和发展提供决策依据,避免资源的重复建设和盲目投入。     

大城市地震灾害应急物流体系建设研究的必要性

从已有的关于地震灾害应急物流体系建设的研究情况指出大城市的应急物流体系建设还有研究的空间,以重庆为例来阐述地震灾害应急物流体系建设的必要性。     

突发灾害中应急物流的组织构建

我国幅员辽阔,地质、地貌结构复杂,灾害种类繁多。台风、暴雨、滑坡、泥石流、沙尘暴和生物灾害等突发灾害事件影响着经济、环境和社会可持续发展。把灾害损失降到最低是人类的共同目标。文章研究突发灾害中应急物流的组织构建及符合国情的应急物流组织系统,探讨如何以快捷、优化的途径和方式将各类救援物资送达灾区,使其在灾后黄金救援时段发挥最好的救援救助功能,避免国家财产和人民生命遭受更大损失。     

应急物流运输方案的决策模型研究

近几年来,应急物流越来越受到人们的瞩目。为了进一步加强应急物流的研究,本文从微观角度构建应急物资运输方案决策模型方向进行探索。鉴于有关应急物资运输方案决策的大量模型缺乏对风险决策的考虑,本文以运筹学风险决策工具效用函数为基础,提出在应急物流中面对的风险决策问题,以及如何利用效用函数构建模型进行决策才能达到目标的最优化,并与其他决策工具得出的结果相比较进一步完善模型。