Green cross-dock based supply chain network design under demand uncertainty using new metaheuristic algorithms

Abstract

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>This study concerns the optimization of green supply chain network design under demand uncertainty. The issue of demand uncertainty has been addressed using a scenario-based analysis approach. The main contribution of this research is to investigate the optimization of cross-dock based supply chain under uncertainty using scenario-based formulation and metaheuristic algorithms. The problem has been formulated as a two-objective mathematical model with the objectives of minimizing the costs and minimizing the environmental impact of the supply chain. Two metaheuristic algorithms, namely non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) and multi-objective invasive weed optimization (MOIWO), have been developed to optimize this mathematical model. This paper focuses on the use of new metaheuristic algorithms such as MOIWO in green supply chain network design, which has received less attention in previous studies. The performance of the two solution methods has been evaluated in terms of three indices, which measure the quality, spacing, and diversification of solutions. Evaluations indicate that the developed MOIWO algorithm produces more Pareto solutions and solutions of higher quality than NSGA-II. A performance test carried out with 31 problem instances of different sizes shows that the two methods perform similarly in terms of the spread of solutions on the Pareto front, but MOIWO provides higher quality solutions than NSGA-II.</p>