Title: Optimal allocation plan for distribution centres of a frozen food company

Authors: Gaia Nicosia; Andrea Pacifici

Addresses: Dipartimento di Informatica e Automazione, Università 'Roma Tre', via della Vasca Navale 79, I-00146 Roma, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Impresa, Università di Roma 'Tor Vergata' via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Roma, Italy

Abstract: In this paper, we analyse the distribution system of an Italian company operating in the ice cream and frozen food industry. In particular, we address the problem of optimally allocating products demand to distribution centres spread over the Italian territory and develop a mixed integer programming model. We present our computational experience in which the optimal solution is compared with the actual distribution policies and show how to use our model as a decision support tool for the company management.

Keywords: distribution centres; frozen food; ice cream; allocation planning; logistics; Italy; mixed integer programming; MIP modelling; decision support.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAMS.2012.047674

International Journal of Applied Management Science, 2012 Vol.4 No.3, pp.224 - 238

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article