Are Base-Stock Policies Optimal in Inventory Problems with Multiple Delivery Modes?


Book Description

We present a periodic review inventory model with multiple delivery modes. While base-stock policies are optimal for one or two consecutive delivery modes, they are not so otherwise. For multiple consecutive delivery modes, we show that only the fastest two modes have optimal base stocks, and provide a simple counterexample to show that the remaining ones do not. We investigate why the base-stock policy is or is not optimal in different situations. This note is an abridged version of Q. Feng, S. P. Sethi, H. Yan and H. Zhang, Optimality and nonoptimality of the base-stock policy in inventory problems with multiple delivery modes, Journal of Industrial and Management Optimization, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2006, pp. 19-42.




Optimality and Nonoptimality of the Base-Stock Policy in Inventory Problems with Multiple Delivery Modes


Book Description

We present a periodic review inventory model with multiple delivery modes. We generalize the notion of the base-stock policy for inventory systems with multiple delivery modes. While base-stock policies are optimal for one or two consecutive delivery modes, it is not so otherwise. For multiple consecutive delivery modes, we show that only the fastest two modes have optimal base stocks, and provide simple counterexamples to show that the remaining ones do not in general. We investigate why the base-stock policy is not optimal through detailed analyses of two numerical examples.




Inventory and Supply Chain Management with Forecast Updates


Book Description

Real problems are formulated into tractable mathematical models, which allow for an analysis of various approaches. Attention is focused on solutions. Provides a unified treatment of the models discussed , presents a critique of the existing results, and points out potential research directions.




Periodic Review Inventory Systems


Book Description

The focus of the work is twofold. First, it provides an introduction into fundamental structural and behavioral aspects of periodic review inventory systems. Second, it includes a comprehensive study on analytical and optimization aspects of a specific class of those systems. For the latter purpose, general solution methods for problems of inventory management in discrete time are described and developed along with highly specialized methods to solve very specific problems related to the model variants examined. The work is thus addressed to students and practitioners who seek a deeper understanding of managing inventories in discrete time as well as to software developers who require implementation aids on specific problems of inventory management.




Stochastic Processes, Optimization, and Control Theory: Applications in Financial Engineering, Queueing Networks, and Manufacturing Systems


Book Description

This edited volume contains 16 research articles. It presents recent and pressing issues in stochastic processes, control theory, differential games, optimization, and their applications in finance, manufacturing, queueing networks, and climate control. One of the salient features is that the book is highly multi-disciplinary. The book is dedicated to Professor Suresh Sethi on the occasion of his 60th birthday, in view of his distinguished career.




Optimality of Base-Stock and (s, S) Policies for Inventory Problems with Information Delays


Book Description

Information delays exist when the most recent inventory information available to the inventory manager (IM) is dated; namely, the IM observes only the inventory level of an earlier period. We introduce information delays into the standard multiperiod stochastic inventory problem with backorders. We consider two types of information delays: (i) a constant delay and (ii) a random delay. We define an appropriate reference inventory position, which is a sufficient statistics for finding the optimal order quantity. We show that the optimal ordering policy is of base-stock type with respect to the reference inventory position and is of (s, S) type if there is also a fixed cost of ordering.




Dual Sourcing


Book Description

Companies with high-performing supply chains enjoy essential competitive ad- vantages. However, supply chain management faces an environment of rising risk that endangers these competitive advantages. One of the reasons is to outsource parts of their business. This bears the risk of significantly increased lead times and lead time variability. It is the impact of lead time variability on inventory management that is the central aspect of this book. It describes a mathematical model for dual sourcing with two reorder points, shows the deviation between stochastic and deterministic calculations in a sensitivity analysis, and investigates different relaxations of a traditional dual-sourcing policy.




Supply Chain Coordination under Uncertainty


Book Description

Channel coordination is a core subject of supply chain management. Over the past decade, much research effort has been devoted to exploring the detailed mechanisms for achieving supply chain coordination under uncertainty, generating many fruitful analytical and empirical results. Despite the abundance of research results, there is an absence of a comprehensive reference source that provides state-of-the-art findings on both theoretical and applied research on the subject. In addition, with the advance of knowledge and technologies, many new topics on supply chain coordination under uncertainty have appeared in recent years. This handbook extensively examines supply chain coordination challenges with a focal point on discovering innovative measures that can help tackle the existing and emerging challenges. The book is organized into five parts, which include chapters on innovative analytical models for coordination, channel power and bargaining, technological advancements and applications, empirical analysis, cases studies and review. This handbook provides new empirical and analytical results with precious insights, which will not only help supply chain agents to understand more about the latest measures for supply chain coordination under uncertainty, but also help practitioners and researchers to know how to improve supply chain performance based on innovative methods.




Innovative Quick Response Programs in Logistics and Supply Chain Management


Book Description

Quick Response (QR) policy is a market-driven business strategy in which supply chain members work together to react quickly to volatile market demand. Nowadays, with advances in information technologies (such as RFID and ERP systems), new challenges and opportunities arise for the application of QR. This handbook explores QR extensively with a view to discovering innovative QR measures that can help tackle the observed and emerging challenges. The book is organized into four parts, which include chapters on analytical modeling and analyses, information technologies, cases, reviews, and applications. This handbook provides new analytical and empirical results with valuable insights, which will not only help supply chain agents to better understand the latest applications of QR in business, but also help practitioners and researchers to know how to improve the effectiveness of QR using innovative methods.




Handbook of Integrated Risk Management in Global Supply Chains


Book Description

A comprehensive, one-stop reference for cutting-edge research in integrated risk management, modern applications, and best practices In the field of business, the ever-growing dependency on global supply chains has created new challenges that traditional risk management must be equipped to handle. Handbook of Integrated Risk Management in Global Supply Chains uses a multi-disciplinary approach to present an effective way to manage complex, diverse, and interconnected global supply chain risks. Contributions from leading academics and researchers provide an action-based framework that captures real issues, implementation challenges, and concepts emerging from industry studies.The handbook is divided into five parts: Foundations and Overview introduces risk management and discusses the impact of supply chain disruptions on corporate performance Integrated Risk Management: Operations and Finance Interface explores the joint use of operational and financial hedging of commodity price uncertainties Supply Chain Finance discusses financing alternatives and the role of financial services in procurement contracts; inventory management and capital structure; and bank financing of inventories Operational Risk Management Strategies outlines supply risks and challenges in decentralized supply chains, such as competition and misalignment of incentives between buyers and suppliers Industrial Applications presents examples and case studies that showcase the discussed methodologies Each topic's presentation includes an introduction, key theories, formulas, and applications. Discussions conclude with a summary of the main concepts, a real-world example, and professional insights into common challenges and best practices. Handbook of Integrated Risk Management in Global Supply Chains is an essential reference for academics and practitioners in the areas of supply chain management, global logistics, management science, and industrial engineering who gather, analyze, and draw results from data. The handbook is also a suitable supplement for operations research, risk management, and financial engineering courses at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels.