Since the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) was introduced by Dantzig and Ramser, it became one of the most studied problems in Combinatorial Optimization. Different solution approaches were proposed over the past decades to solve the VRP and its variants. In this thesis, we discuss about two VRP variants, resulting from the integration of VRPs with distribution problems. The first problem takes pl...

One of the important aspects of distribution optimization problems is simultaneously, controlling the inventory while devising the best vehicle routing, which is a famous problem, called inventory-routing problem (IRP). When the lot-sizing decisions are jointed with IRP, the problem will get more complicated called production inventory-routing problem (PIRP). To become closer to the real life p...

Given the emergence of two-echelon distribution systems in several practical contexts, this paper tackles, at strategic level, a network design problem under uncertainty. This is defined as stochastic multi-period capacitated location-routing (2E-SM-CLRP). It considers partitioned into two echelons: each echelon involves specific location-assignment-transportation schema that must cope with fut...

Abstract This paper introduces the Hierarchical Multi-Switch Multi-Echelon Vehicle Routing Problem, a new variant of well-known Problem. It is real-world problem originating from policies Nordic distribution company. The includes single depot, non-predetermined hierarchy intermediate facilities, and two different fleets, consisting homogeneous original local vehicles, which are pulling swap-bod...

Multi-echelon distribution systems are quite common in supply-chain and logistic management. They are used by public administrations in their transportation and traffic planning strategies as well as by companies to model their distribution systems. In the literature, most studies address issues related to the movement of flows throughout the system from the origins to their final destinations....