We consider a multi-product serial two echelon inventory system with stochastic demand. Inventories at the downstream location are replenished periodically using an automatic ordering system. Under vendor managed inventory strategies the upstream stage is allowed to adapt these orders in order to benefit from economies of scale. We propose three different VMI strategies, aiming to reduce the or...

Stochastic inventory control in multi-echelon systems poses hard problems in optimisation under uncertainty. Stochastic programming can solve small instances optimally, and approximately solve large instances via scenario reduction techniques, but it cannot handle arbitrary nonlinear constraints or other nonstandard features. Simulation optimisation is an alternative approach that has recently ...

this paper deals with an i * corresponding author email address:   nventory system with one central warehouse and a number of identical retailers. we consider perishable-on-the-shelf items; that is, all items have a fixed shelf life and start to age on their arrival at the retailers. each retailer faces poisson demand and employs (1, t) inventory policy. although demand n...

We analyze a multi-echelon inventory system with inventory stages arranged in series. In addition to traditional forward material flows, used products are returned to a recovery facility, where they can be stored, disposed, or remanufactured and shipped to one of the stages to reenter the forward flow of material. This system combines the key elements of two simpler systems: the series system s...

In this paper, we devise a framework for obtaining the optimal ordering policy in a single location, continuous review inventory system with arbitrary inter-demand times. We show that it is optimal to order at demand arrival epochs only if the inter-demand time has constant or decreasing failure rate (CFR or DFR). When the inter-demand time has increasing failure rate (IFR), we show that the op...

Previous researchers have developed ways of managing forward-oriented supply chains, and gave insight to solve single-stage inventory systems. In this study, we analyze an inventory system with traditional forward-oriented material flow as well as a reverse material flow supply chain. In the reverse material flow, the used products are returned, remanufactured and shipped to the retailer for re...

Multi-echelon, multi-indenture spare parts inventory control subject to system availability and budget constraints, Reliability Engineering and System Safety, This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of ...

We consider a single-echelon, single-item inventory system where both demand and lead-time are stochastic. Continuous review policy is used to control the inventory system. The objective is to calculate the reorder point level under stochastic parameters. A case study is presented in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Keywords—Inventory control system, reorder point level, stochastic demand, stochas...

One of the most important aspects affecting the performance of a supply chain is the management of inventories. Managing inventory in complex supply chains is typically difficult, and may have a significant impact on the customer service level and system-wide costs. The main challenge of inventory management is that almost every inventory problem involves multiple and conflicting objectives tha...