This paper presents a three-level supply chain model which includes single supplier, several distribution centers and sets of retailers. For this purpose, by adopting the queuing approach, a mixed nonlinear integer programming model is formulated. The proposed model follows minimizing the total cost of the system by determining: 1) the number and location of distribution centers between candida...

The problems of facility location and the allocation of demand points to facilities are crucial research issues in spatial data analysis and urban planning. It is very important for an organization or governments to best locate its resources and facilities and efficiently manage resources to ensure that all demand points are covered and all the needs are met. Most of the recent studies, which f...

Increasing the use of fossil fuels is with severe environmental and economic problems, bringing more attention to alternative fuels. The compressed natural gas (CNG), as an alternative fuel, offers many more benefits than gasoline or diesel fuel such as cost-effectiveness, lower pollution, better performance, and lower maintenance costs. Gas stations location and the number of gas stations are ...

Determination of facilities, such as factories or warehouses, location and availability conditions is one of the important and strategic decisions for an organization to make. Transportation costs that form a major part of goods price are dependent to this decision making. There are verity of methods have been presented to achieve the optimal locations of these facilities which are generally de...

Abstract The purpose of this study is to consider an international facility location problem under uncertainty and present an integrated model for strategic and operational planning. The paper offers two methodologies for the location selection decision. First the extended VIKOR method for decision making problem with interval numbers is presented as a methodology for strategic evaluation of po...

The hierarchical hub covering facility location problems are applied to distribution systems, transportation, waste disposal, treatment services, emergency services and remote communication. The problems attempt to determine the location of service providers' facilities at different levels and specify their linking directions in order to reduce costs and to establish an appropriate condition in...