Sustainable Closed-Loop Supply Chain Design Problem: A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm Approach

YoungSu Yun,Mitsuo Gen,Anudari Chuluunsukh

doi:10.3390/math8010084

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a solution to the sustainable closed-loop supply chain (SCLSC) design problem. Three factors (economic, environmental, and social) are considered for the problem and the three following requirements are addressed while satisfying associated constraint conditions: (i) minimizing the total cost; (ii) minimizing the total amount of CO2 emission during production and transportation of products; (iii) maximizing the social influence. Further, to ensure the efficient distribution of products through the SCLSC network, three types of distribution channels (normal delivery, direct delivery, and direct shipment) are considered, enabling a reformulation of the problem as a multi-objective optimization problem that can be solved using Pareto optimal solutions. A mathematical formulation is proposed for the problem, and it is solved using a hybrid genetic algorithm (pro-HGA) approach. The performance of the pro-HGA approach is compared with those of other conventional approaches at varying scales, and the performances of the SCLSC design problems with and without three types of distribution channels are also compared. Finally, we prove that the pro-HGA approach outperforms its competitors, and that the SCLSC design problem with three types of distribution channels is more efficient than that with a single distribution channel.

Highlights

Closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) design problems are multi-stage networks endowed with various facilities of forward logistics (FL) and reverse logistics (RL) at each stage
Economic, environmental, and social factors are usually considered for effectively constructing a sustainable closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) (SCLSC)
In terms of DIR (Sj ), the pro-hybrid GA (HGA) approach exhibits significantly better results than the genetic algorithm (GA) and HGA approaches in Problems

Summary

Introduction

Closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) design problems are multi-stage networks endowed with various facilities of forward logistics (FL) and reverse logistics (RL) at each stage. The environmental factors usually considered include the minimization of the total amount or the cost of CO2 or carbon emitted during the production and transportation of materials and products at each stage of the CLSC design problem [3,9,10,18,19,21]. The CLSC design problem by Paksoyet et al [9] seeks to minimize the total cost of CO2 emissions during the transportation of materials or products at each stage by raw material suppliers, plants, DCs, warehouses, and customers in FL and collection centers, repairing centers, dismantlers, decomposition centers, and final disposals in RL.

Conceptual Structure of SCLSC Design Problem

Proposed HGA Approach

Results and Discussions

Pareto optimal optimal solutions for for each approach approach in Problem

Pareto

Conclusions