Title: Using predetermined partial solutions for solving a heterogeneous truck fleet distribution model

Authors: Agha Iqbal Ali; Debra J. O'Connor

Addresses: Isenberg School of Management, UMASS Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA ' College of the Holy Cross, One College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA

Abstract: This paper makes use of partial solutions to solve a two-echelon heterogeneous truck fleet distribution model with single-sourced distribution centres. The partial solutions are predetermined using an algorithmic procedure that determines the mix of trucks to deploy to a demand point by relating the required shipment volume to the cost and capacity of each truck type. The partial solutions reduce the feasible region of the associated mixed-integer programming model, which is then solved to obtain the complete solution. A computational study demonstrates that solutions for prototypical two-echelon distribution scenarios with up to 32 distribution centres and 1,600 demand points can be obtained within a few seconds of computation time.

Keywords: distribution modelling; integer programming; logistics; partial solutions; planning; truck fleet distribution; demand points; distribution centres; shipment volume; mixed integer programming.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPS.2014.066688

International Journal of Planning and Scheduling, 2014 Vol.2 No.1, pp.1 - 13

Received: 02 Aug 2013
Accepted: 20 Dec 2013
Published online: 14 Jan 2015 *

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