A top-down approach and a decision support system for the design and management of logistic networks

This paper presents an original top-down approach, made of original models and solving methods, and a decision support system (DSS) for the execution of the strategic planning, the tactical planning and the operational planning in a multi-echelon multi-stage multi-commodity and multi-period production, distribution and transportation system. The DSS is a software platform useful for the design, management and control of real instances. It can efficiently supports the decision making process of logistic managers and planners of large enterprises as multi-facilities companies and production–distribution networks. A significant case study is illustrated. The results obtained by the application of different problem settings are compared and discussed.     

Integrated production and intermodal transportation planning in large scale production–distribution-networks

We present a model and solution approach for combining production and intermodal transportation planning in a supply network. A close and detailed integration of both decision fields is missing in the literature so far. The model includes relevant decisions regarding production setups and output volumes of plants, cargo consolidation at intermodal terminals, and capacity bookings for road and rail transports. A Branch-and-Cut method and heuristics are designed for solving the problem. A comprehensive case study for a chemical company identified a 6%-cost saving from the integrated planning. At the same time, companies are successfully supported in establishing eco-friendly distribution processes.     

Strategic design and operational management optimization of a multi stage physical distribution system

Design and management of logistic networks is one of the most critical issues in supply chain management. However, the literature does not contain any effective models, methods, and applications that simultaneously support management decisions in the strategic design of the distribution system, in the operational planning and organization of vehicles, and in container trips organization adopting different modes of transportation. The aim of this paper is to illustrate an original framework for the design and optimization of a multi echelon and multi level production/distribution system that combines mixed-integer linear programming modeling with cluster analysis, heuristic algorithms, and optimal transportation rules. A significant case study is illustrated revealing the effectiveness of the approach and tools proposed.     

Design of international assembly systems and their supply chains under NAFTA

The purpose of this paper is to provide a decision support aid for the strategic design of an assembly system in the international business environment created by NAFTA. The strategic design problem is to prescribe a set of facilities, including their locations, technologies, and capacities, as well as strategic aspects of the supply chain, selecting suppliers; locating distribution centers; planning transportation modes; and allocating target levels (i.e., amounts) for production, assembly, and distribution. The objective is to maximize after-tax profits. This paper presents a mixed integer programming model that represents the complexities of the international design problem as well as relevant enterprise-wide decisions in the US–Mexico business environment under NAFTA. It deals with a broad set of design issues (e.g., bill-of-material restrictions, international financial considerations, and material flow through the entire supply chain) using effective modeling devices (e.g., linearizing non-linearities that arise in modeling transfer prices and allocating transportation charges). Examples demonstrate how managers might use the model as a decision support aid.     

Replenishment and lead time decisions in manufacturer–retailer chains

This study investigates the decisions of replenishment and lead-time reduction for a single-manufacturer multiple-retailer integrated inventory system in which the probability distribution of demand for each retailer is unknown but its mean and variance are given. A decision model is presented and a minimax distribution free procedure is applied to determine the lead time, the common shipment cycle time, the target levels of replenishments and the number of shipments per production cycle so that the expected total system cost can be minimized. A decision support system has been implemented on a personal computer to illustrate the application of the model.     

A scenario planning approach for the flood emergency logistics preparation problem under uncertainty

This paper aims to develop a decision-making tool that can be used by government agencies in planning for flood emergency logistics. In this article, the flood emergency logistics problem with uncertainty is formulated as two stochastic programming models that allow for the determination of a rescue resource distribution system for urban flood disasters. The decision variables include the structure of rescue organizations, locations of rescue resource storehouses, allocations of rescue resources under capacity restrictions, and distributions of rescue resources. By applying the data processing and network analysis functions of the geographic information system, flooding potential maps can estimate the possible locations of rescue demand points and the required amount of rescue equipment. The proposed models are solved using a sample average approximation scheme. Finally, a real example of planning for flood emergency logistics is presented to highlight the significance of the proposed model as well as the efficacy of the proposed solution strategy.     

Ant colony optimization for disaster relief operations

This paper presents a meta-heuristic of ant colony optimization (ACO) for solving the logistics problem arising in disaster relief activities. The logistics planning involves dispatching commodities to distribution centers in the affected areas and evacuating the wounded people to medical centers. The proposed method decomposes the original emergency logistics problem into two phases of decision making, i.e., the vehicle route construction, and the multi-commodity dispatch. The sub-problems are solved in an iterative manner. The first phase builds stochastic vehicle paths under the guidance of pheromone trails while a network flow based solver is developed in the second phase for the assignment between different types of vehicle flows and commodities. The performance of the algorithm is tested on a number of randomly generated networks and the results indicate that this algorithm performs well in terms of solution quality and run time.     

客运专线预制梁场选址综合评价决策模型研究与应用

分析影响客运专线预制梁场选址的因素，建立客运专线预制梁场选址综合评价指标体系及决策评价模型，利用层次分析法AHP确定各评价指标权重，并结合客运专线预制梁场场址方案决策案例，对该模型进行应用分析。     

Bioethanol supply chain system planning under supply and demand uncertainties

A mixed integer stochastic programming model is established to support strategic planning of bioenergy supply chain systems and optimal feedstock resource allocation in an uncertain decision environment. The two-stage stochastic programming model, together with a Lagrange relaxation based decomposition solution algorithm, was implemented in a real-world case study in California to explore the potential of waste-based bioethanol production. The model results show that biowaste-based ethanol can be a viable part of sustainable energy solution for the future.     

Interregional trade network analysis for road freight transport in Greece

This paper suggests a flexible decision support framework for the strategic planning of a freight transport hub network in Greece. The proposed methodology treats practical aspects related to the optimal number, location and geographical covering of hubs, through the network analysis of interregional trade, based on original survey data for road freight flows during 2004–2012. The results offer insights into the hierarchical structure of the network and related investment priorities, as the hub role of a prefecture is found to be strongly influenced by high population densities and manufacturing specialization, and its location along highway corridors.     

Transport corridors and regional balance in China: the case of coal trade and logistics

Coal plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of China. Yet, the spatial mismatch between production centers (inland Northwest) and consumption centers (coastal region) within China fostered the emergence of dedicated coal transport corridors with limited alternatives. Serious problems of energy shortage and power rationing have already affected southeastern China. At the same time, enormous interregional coal transfers face a lack of transport capacity along the transport system. Based on first-hand statistics, a disaggregated analysis of coal distribution patterns since the late 1970s provides novel evidences about the local effects of macroscopic trends, such as the shift from dominant exports to dominant imports in terms of changing traffic concentration levels and distribution patterns among routes and ports. The spatial evolution of coal distribution is also discussed in terms of related industry linkages and local influences, coal trade policies and market pricing, port system evolution, and transport network planning. The paper also discusses possible improvements of the current situation through enhancing multimodal transport based on a review of current policies.     

Identification and classification of public transport activity centres in Stockholm using passenger flows data

Urban geography could be characterized by analysing the patterns that describe the flows of people and goods. Measuring urban structures is essential for supporting an evidence-based spatial planning policy. The objective of this study is to examine how the spatial–temporal distribution of public transport passenger flow could be used to reveal urban structure dynamics. A methodology to identify and classify centres based on mobility data was applied to Metropolitan Stockholm in Sweden using multi-modal public transport passenger flows. Stockholm is known for its long-term monocentric planning with a dominant central core and radial public transport system. Strategic nodes along its radial public transport system have been a focus for development of sub-centres. Although the regional planning policy embraces a shift towards a polycentric planning policy, the results indicate that this has not been realized insofar.     

The formulation and evaluation of transport route planning alternatives: a spatial decision support system for the Via Baltica project,Poland

Transport planning plays an undeniably key role in the economic growth of any region. However, when done heedlessly this planning can be detrimental to the biophysical and social environment of the region. In transport route planning generally one or a few alternative routes are proposed, usually representing the interest of the proponent. If required, an environmental impact assessment is carried out on these alternatives. Although, EIA and SEA are meant to be effective in taking informed decisions about the proposed route, these alternatives – the heart of impact assessment – are themselves devised in a subjective and non-spatial manner.Such an approach may easily overlook routes, which could otherwise have been more suitable. A planning system that directly takes into account environmental and socio-economic considerations in selecting alternative routes facilitates sustainable development. This paper presents a holistic and coherent spatial multi-criteria network analysis method for the generation of optimal routing alternatives under different policy visions, in a network of existing roads.The presented methodology was case-tested for the highly contested 340 km portion of the Via Baltica corridor in Poland, a part of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) program. The methodology shows its ability to serve as a versatile effect-based decision support system for transport route planning at a strategically higher level of planning, particularly for (geographically) large-scale investment schemes.     

异常条件下的客运专线车站作业计划调整方法探讨

客运专线车站作业计划编制是客运专线综合调度系统在基层的最直接反映,包括接发列车作业计划编制和调车作业计划编制两方面内容。由于自然环境、气候发生变化,施工或是设备出现故障等异常条件都会给客运专线的正常行车带来重大影响,原有的车站作业计划就需要进行调整。基于客运专线车站作业计划编制的两阶段算法,提出时间调整、空间调整及动车组运用调整等三种车站作业计划调整方法,重点介绍列车晚点情况下的车站作业计划调整,最后以沪杭客专上某车站为例加以验证。     

企业物流配送模式选择的TOPSIS多目标决策研究

介绍目前主要的物流配送模式，建立物流配送模式选择的评价指标体系，利用熵权法和AHP方法相结合，得出企业配送模式选择中的各个评价指标的权重，使评价结果更具有说服力。并且引入TOPSIS法有效解决配送模式选择的多目标决策问题，并对各备选模式进行了定量排序，为企业物流配送模式的决策提供依据。     

High-speed rail in Taiwan: New experience and issues for future development

This study aims to identify some possible issues and challenges for Taiwan's High Speed Rail (HSR) system, which was constructed and is operated under a Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) model. The operational experiences in the initial stage for equivalent systems in Japan, France, Germany, and elsewhere are introduced herein. This study first presents Taiwan's HSR system development and conducts an ex post cost–benefit analysis of this transportation system. Second, unsatisfied ridership is examined to look for possible solutions to increase it. Third, the paper examines the impact of HSR on the intercity transportation market. Finally, the integration between HSR and various existing transportation modes is discussed. Several policy suggestions are included, which are useful for the decision makers of transportation systems’ entrepreneurs, the central government, and the local authorities to derive a comprehensive post-HSR planning strategy for a more integrated transportation system.     

基于低成本的逆向物流回收策略探讨

在产品回收活动中采取什么样的回收路线,才能降低回收成本是企业实施逆向物流的关键。回收路线的选择属于非线性规划问题,运用随机运筹中Markov决策规划的MDP模型,将逆向物流回收决策问题转化为有限阶段模型,用向后归纳法求解出最优策略,并运用节约矩阵法对回收路线进行优化。     

基于多节点的物流选址规划研究

物流节点选址是在一个具有若干需求点的经济区域内选择一个地址设置物流点的规划过程。物流节点的数量和分布直接影响到该物流系统的服务成本及服务范围,因此物流节点的选址是物流系统规划中至关重要的环节。对多物流节点的选址问题,可利用鲍摩-瓦尔夫模型求解,通过举例对模型的运用进行了说明。     

铁路乘务排班管理与辅助决策系统的设计与构建

针对传统铁路客运排班及管理存在的不足,为使铁路乘务管理水平与快速发展的高速铁路运营方式相适应,通过分析系统设计目的及原则,采用数据层、功能层和显示层的逻辑架构,设计铁路乘务排班管理与辅助决策系统。系统通过对接已有信息系统,具备排班计划管理、自动调整、查询与统计功能,实现铁路乘务排班管理与辅助决策,为提升科学排班及乘务管理水平、进一步优化客运生产关系、推进铁路智能化乘务管理提供技术支撑与理论指导。     

A multi-objective genetic algorithm approach to design optimal zoning systems for freight transportation planning

This paper contributes to the existing research on freight transportation, spatial and land use planning by investigating an improved spatial aggregation technique to delineate desirable freight traffic analysis zones. Zoning is a process of spatially aggregating several predefined basic spatial units (BSUs) into multiple zones. It plays a vital role in the transportation planning and decision-making process and is well-documented as the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP). MAUP involves aggregating BSUs to obtain optimal zones satisfying specific criteria and constraints. This paper proposes an improved spatial aggregation methodology to develop a freight traffic analysis zone system by applying the multiobjective optimization concept using a genetic algorithm. The decision variables, namely, (i) Freight trip density; (ii) Number of establishments; (iii) Employment density; and (iv) Compactness, are chosen to represent the elements of freight, passenger traffic, and land use. The problem is formulated as a multiobjective network partitioning problem. The four objectives aim to create zones with better homogeneity and compactness. It is solved using a genetic algorithm with a weighted distance metric approach to prioritize the four objectives. Results show that zones resulting from the improved methodology are superior to the existing zones in terms of homogeneity of decision variables and compactness. The findings are expected to help the decision-making process of urban, transportation, and land-use planners in selecting appropriate freight traffic zone delineation strategies for a given region.