A MILP Model for Reusable Containers Management in Automotive Plastic Components Supply Chain

The automotive sector operates under the just-in-time (JIT) approach, but variations in demand mean that first-tier suppliers generate an accumulation of stocks at second-tier suppliers. Second-tier have a limitation storage space, reason to limit their production size warehouse, always attending plan. A further supplier is number empty reusable containers delivers and are used package injected plastic components. filled returned supplier, according components Thus, closed-loop logistic carried out between first This study proposes, from perspective, mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model for fleet sizing decisions cardboard system. determines has use when higher than available containers.