Multi-Depot Pickup and Delivery Problem with Resource Sharing

Abstract

Resource sharing (RS) integrated into the optimization of multi-depot pickup and delivery problem (MDPDP) can greatly reduce the logistics operating cost and required transportation resources by reconfiguring the logistics network. This study formulates and solves an MDPDP with RS (MDPDPRS). First, a bi-objective mathematical programming model that minimizes the logistics cost and the number of vehicles is constructed, in which vehicles are allowed to be used multiple times by one or multiple logistics facilities. Second, a two-stage hybrid algorithm composed of a k-means clustering algorithm, a Clark-Wright (CW) algorithm, and a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is designed. The k-means algorithm is adopted in the first stage to reallocate customers to logistics facilities according to the Manhattan distance between them, by which the computational complexity of solving the MDPDPRS is reduced. In the second stage, CW and NSGA-II are adopted jointly to optimize the vehicle routes and find the Pareto optimal solutions. CW algorithm is used to select the initial solution, which can increase the speed of finding the optimal solution during NSGA-II. Fast nondominated sorting operator and elite strategy selection operator are utilized to maintain the diversity of solutions in NSGA-II. Third, benchmark tests are conducted to verify the performance and effectiveness of the proposed two-stage hybrid algorithm, and numerical results prove that the proposed methodology outperforms the standard NSGA-II and multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm. Finally, optimization results of a real-world logistics network from Chongqing confirm the applicability of the mathematical model and the designed solution algorithm. Solving the MDPDPRS provides a management tool for logistics enterprises to improve resource configuration and optimize logistics operation efficiency.