The increasing number of applications of supply chain network optimization models to strategic planning has created new challenges for model practitioners and their clients. These challenges are discussed in the context of four categories of modeling and organizational imperatives.

The multi-objective optimization for a multi-product multi-period four-echelon supply chain network consisting of manufacturing plants, distribution centers (DCs) and retailers each with uncertain services and uncertain customer nodes are aimed in this paper. The two objectives are minimization of the total supply chain cost and maximization of the average number of products dispatched to custo...

Purpose – The study sets out to explore the use of an iterative approach for designing distribution chain in an agile virtual environment; in an agile virtual environment, quick adaptation to changing market situation and automation of supply chain management processes are essential. Design/methodology/approach – The iterative approach consists of two parts: the strategic model and the tactical...

This paper develops a decentralized leader-follower game for network design of a competitive supply chain problem in which a new chain as the leader enters a market with one existing supply chain as a follower. Both chains produce an identical product, customer demand is inelastic and customer utility function is based on Huff gravity-based model. The leader wants to shape his network and set a...

The rational distribution of water in a water supply network (WSN) is a complex problem, especially for systems of large scale. Its complexity is continually increasing from the point of view of technical management. The division of WSN into hydraulic zones is a partition of the supply network into subsystems with controlled inputs and outputs, building smaller independent networks. This soluti...

in this study, an optimization model is proposed to design a global supply chain (gsc) for a medical device manufacturer under disruption in the presence of pre-existing competitors and price inelasticity of demand. therefore, static competition between the distributors’ facilities to more efficiently gain a further share in market of economic cooperation organization trade agreement (ecota) is...

This paper addresses the problem of supply chain design at the strategic level when production/distribution of a new market opportunity has to be launched in an existing supply chain. The new market opportunity is characterized by a deterministic forecast expected to occur per period. The product (or service) is assumed to be produced (or provided) in a three-stage capacitated supply chain wher...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of strategic integration of knowledge management (KM ) and customer relationship management (CRM). The integration is a strategic issue that has strong ramifications in the long-term competitiveness of organizations. It is not limited to CRM; the concept can also be applied to supply chain management (SCM), product development mana...