Abstract
In this paper, a sustainable closed-loop supply chain problem is modelled in conditions of uncertainty. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the designed supply chain network seeks to deliver medical equipment to hospitals on time within a defined time window to prevent overcrowding and virus transmission. In order to achieve a suitable model for designing a sustainable closed-loop supply chain network, important decisions such as locating potential facilities, optimal flow allocation, and vehicle routing have been made to prevent the congestion of vehicles and transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Since the amount of demand in hospitals for medical equipment is unknown, the fuzzy programming method is used to control uncertain demand, and to achieve an efficient solution to the decision-making problem, the neutrosophic fuzzy method is used. The results show that the designed model and the selected solution method (the neutrosophic fuzzy method) have led to a reduction in vehicle traffic by meeting the uncertain demand of hospitals in different time windows. In this way, both the chain network costs have been reduced and medical equipment has been transferred to hospitals with social distancing.
Highlights
In the 1960s and 1970s, organisations sought to increase their competitiveness by standardising and improving internal processes to produce better-quality products at lower costs
The model designed in this paper aims to reduce the transfer of COVID-19 resulting from the distribution and collection of medical equipment to and from hospitals in different time windows
The developed supply chain model is considered to reduce costs, reduce time, and reduce the number of vehicles for the distribution of medical devices and equipment. These conflicting objectives simultaneously include the objectives of public closed-loop supply chain networks and the objectives of preventing the spread of COVID-19
Summary
In the 1960s and 1970s, organisations sought to increase their competitiveness by standardising and improving internal processes to produce better-quality products at lower costs. The closed-loop supply chain network for the distribution and collection of medical equipment modelled and its related variables and objectives have been selected. The developed supply chain model is considered to reduce costs, reduce time, and reduce the number of vehicles for the distribution of medical devices and equipment These conflicting objectives simultaneously include the objectives of public closed-loop supply chain networks and the objectives of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Given the issues mentioned above, as well as the current and previous waves of the COVID-9 pandemic, the main research question can be posed as follows: How does one design a closed-loop supply chain network that, in addition to reducing the cost and time of medical equipment transfer, leads to reduced vehicle traffic and transmission of the COVID-19 under uncertainty?. The sixth section concludes and presents future research proposals
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