skip to main content
10.5555/1030818.1031054acmconferencesArticle/Chapter ViewAbstractPublication PageswscConference Proceedingsconference-collections
Article

Freight simulation: a monte carlo simulation approach to the capacitated multi-location transshipment problem

Published: 07 December 2003 Publication History

Abstract

We consider a supply chain, which consists of <i>N</i> retailers and one supplier. The retailers may be coordinated through replenishment strategies and lateral transshipments, that is, movement of a product among the locations at the same echelon level. Transshipment quantities may be limited, however, due to the physical constraints of the transportation media or due to the reluctance of retailers to completely pool their stock with other retailers. We introduce a stochastic approximation algorithm to compute the order-up-to quantities using a sample-path-based optimization procedure. Given an order-up-to <i>S</i> policy, we determine an optimal transshipment policy, using an LP/Network flow framework. Such a numerical approach allows us to study systems with arbitrary complexity.

References

[1]
Archibald, T. W., A. A. E. Sassen, and L. C. Thomas. 1997. An Optimal Policy for a Two-Depot Inventory problem with Stock Transfer. Management Science 43:173--183.
[2]
Dong, L., and N. Rudi. 2000. Supply Chain Interaction Under Transshipments. Working paper. The Simon School, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
[3]
Fu, M. C. 1994. Sample Path Derivatives for (s, S) Inventory Systems. Operations Research 42:351--364.
[4]
Fu, M. C., and Hu, J. Q. 1997. Conditional Monte Carlo: Gradient Estimation and Optimization Applications. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
[5]
Fu, M. C., and Hu, J. Q. 1999. Efficient Design and Sensitivity Analysis of Control Charts using Monte Carlo Simulation. Management Science 45: 395--413.
[6]
Glasserman, P. 1991. Gradient Estimation via Perturbation Analysis. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
[7]
Glasserman, P. 1992. Derivative Estimates from Simulation of Continuous-Time Markov Chains. Operations Research 40:292--308.
[8]
Glasserman, P. 1994. Perturbation Analysis of Production Networks. In Stochastic Modeling and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems (Yao, Ed.). Springer-Verlag.
[9]
Glasserman, P. and S. Tayur. 1995. Sensitivity Analysis for Base Stock Levels in Multi-Echelon Production-Inventory Systems. Management Science 41: 263--281.
[10]
Herer, Y. T. and A. Rashit. 1999. Lateral Stock Transshipments in a Two-Location Inventory System with Fixed and Joint Replenishment Costs. Naval Research Logistics 46: 525--547.
[11]
Herer Y. T., M. Tzur, E. Yücesan. 2001. The Multi-Location Transshipment Problem. Working paper. Department of Industrial Engineering, Tel Aviv University.
[12]
Ho, Y. C., M. A. Eyler, and T. T. Chien. 1979. A Gradient Technique for General Buffer Storage Design in a Serial Production Line. International Journal of Production Research 17: 557--580.
[13]
Krishnan, K. S. and V. R. K. Rao. 1965. Inventory Control in N Warehouses. Journal of Industrial Engineering 16:212--215.
[14]
Özdemir, D., E. Yücesan, and Y. T. Herer. 2003. Multi-Location Transshipment Problem with Capacitated Transportation. Working paper. Technology Management Area, INSEAD.
[15]
Robbins H. and S. Monro. 1951. A Stochastic Approximation Method. Annals of Mathematical Statistics 22: 400--407.
[16]
Robinson, L. W. 1990. Optimal and Approximate Policies in Multiperiod, Multilocation Inventory Models with Transshipments. Operations Research 38: 278--295.
[17]
Rudi, N., S. Kapur, and D. Pyke. 2001. A Two-location Inventory Model with Transshipment and Local Decision Making. Management Science 47: 1668--1680.
[18]
Shapiro, A. 2001. Monte Carlo Simulation Approach to Stochastic Programming. Proceedings of the 2001 Winter Simulation Conference (Peters, Smith, Medeiros, and Rohrer, eds.) 428--431.
[19]
Tagaras, G. 1989. Effects of Pooling on the Optimization and Service Levels of Two-Location Inventory Systems. IIE Transactions 21:250--257.
[20]
Tagaras, G. 1999. Pooling in Multi-Location Periodic Inventory Distribution Systems. Omega 39--59.
[21]
Tagaras, G. and M. Cohen. 1992. Pooling in Two-Location Inventory Systems with Non-Negligible Replenishment Lead Times. Management Science 38: 1067--1083.
  1. Freight simulation: a monte carlo simulation approach to the capacitated multi-location transshipment problem

    Recommendations

    Comments

    Information & Contributors

    Information

    Published In

    cover image ACM Conferences
    WSC '03: Proceedings of the 35th conference on Winter simulation: driving innovation
    December 2003
    2094 pages
    ISBN:0780381327

    Sponsors

    • IIE: Institute of Industrial Engineers
    • INFORMS/CS: Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences/College on Simulation
    • ASA: American Statistical Association
    • ACM: Association for Computing Machinery
    • SIGSIM: ACM Special Interest Group on Simulation and Modeling
    • IEEE/CS: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers/Computer Society
    • NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • (SCS): The Society for Modeling and Simulation International
    • IEEE/SMCS: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers/Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society

    Publisher

    Winter Simulation Conference

    Publication History

    Published: 07 December 2003

    Check for updates

    Qualifiers

    • Article

    Conference

    WSC03
    Sponsor:
    • IIE
    • INFORMS/CS
    • ASA
    • ACM
    • SIGSIM
    • IEEE/CS
    • NIST
    • (SCS)
    • IEEE/SMCS
    WSC03: Winter Simulation Conference 2003
    December 7 - 10, 2003
    Louisiana, New Orleans

    Acceptance Rates

    WSC '03 Paper Acceptance Rate 128 of 189 submissions, 68%;
    Overall Acceptance Rate 3,413 of 5,075 submissions, 67%

    Contributors

    Other Metrics

    Bibliometrics & Citations

    Bibliometrics

    Article Metrics

    • 0
      Total Citations
    • 230
      Total Downloads
    • Downloads (Last 12 months)0
    • Downloads (Last 6 weeks)0
    Reflects downloads up to 08 Mar 2025

    Other Metrics

    Citations

    View Options

    Login options

    View options

    PDF

    View or Download as a PDF file.

    PDF

    eReader

    View online with eReader.

    eReader

    Figures

    Tables

    Media

    Share

    Share

    Share this Publication link

    Share on social media