Abstract
Manufacturers and service providers often encounter stochastic demand scenarios. Researchers have, thus far, considered the deterministic truck and trailer routing problem (TTRP) that cannot address ubiquitous demand uncertainties and/or other complexities. The purpose of this study is to model the TTRP with stochastic demand (TTRPSD) constraints to bring the TTRP model closer to a reality. The model is solved in a reasonable timeframe using data from a large dairy service by administering the multipoint simulated annealing (M-SA), memetic algorithm (MA), and tabu search (TS). A sizeable number of customers whose demands follow the Poisson probability distribution are considered to model and solve the problem. To make the solutions relevant, first, 21 special TTRPSD benchmark instances are modified for this case and then these benchmarks are used in order to increase the validity and efficiency of the aforementioned algorithms and to show the consistency of the results. Also, the solutions have been tested using sensitivity analysis to understand the effects of the parameters and to make a comparison between the best results obtained by three algorithms and sensitivity analysis. Since the differences between the results are insignificant, the algorithms are found to be appropriate and relevant for solving real-world TTRPSD problem.
Highlights
These days, complex customer demands are required to be satisfied by many companies
The memetic algorithm (MA), multipoint simulated annealing (M-simulated annealing (SA)) and tabu search (TS) were coded by MATLAB 7.9.0 using a computer with a 2.4 GHz dual processor and 4 G RAM
The benchmarks were solved in order to increase the validity of the aforesaid algorithms and to show the consistency of the results
Summary
These days, complex customer demands are required to be satisfied by many companies. a large number of companies are trying to achieve a high level of reliability, flexibility, and agility for different demands. Supply chain management (SCM) has become a thought-provoking subject for various companies, seeking for a way out of efficiently improving their customer satisfaction. As the network of supplies begins at the inbound supply chain, the role of this group is transporting the semifinished products or the raw materials to the site of manufacturing. The main concern of the intracompany supply chain, as the intermediary part, is with the flow of material in the site of manufacturing. The outbound supply chain is concerned with the delivery of final products to the customers [1]. The inventory allocation and transportation are strongly considered in the outbound supply chain for minimizing the cost and satisfying the customers’ demands. Efficiency improvement through the maximum usage of the necessities of transportation and decreasing the costs of transportation along with the improvement of services for customers are the frequent and significant decision analysis problems [2]
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