We consider a vendor who supplies goods to a set of geographically dispersed retailers and can monitor and control the inventory levels at the retailers. Such an arrangement is often called vendor managed inventory (VMI). The decisions in this set-up are the inventory levels at the warehouse and...

Industry practitioners and policy makers are under increasing pressure to promote green supply chains through the integration of renewable energy sources. Changing facilities from net energy users to net energy producers is a major concern for supply chain managers who are interested in greening...

The dynamic lotsizing problem concerns the determination of optimally produced/delivered batch quantities, when demand, which is to be satisfied, is distributed over time in different amounts at different times. The standard formulation assumes that these batches are provided instantaneously,...

While many review articles exist on (deterministic) lot sizing models used in the context of price and quantity discounts, buyer–vendor coordination, supply chain management, and joint economic lot sizing problems, they do not convey the impact of important findings which date back to at least...

In this paper we extend and apply MRP theory towards reverse logistics including the considerations of transportation consequences. Our aim is to demonstrate the versatility obtained from using MRP theory when combining Input–Output Analysis and Laplace transforms. This enables an analysis of...

Net present value has long been regarded in academic circles as the best criterion for project appraisal; however, several alternative, complementary methods remain popular with practitioners. This paper demonstrates that, if properly applied, several of these standard criteria – such as net...

We illustrate the use of the Lambert W function by analysing two Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) scenarios: an EOQ model with perishable inventory; and a Net Present Value analysis of an EOQ problem with trim loss. Both scenarios are motivated by real-world situations. Via these two examples, we...

The dynamic lotsizing problem concerns the determination of optimal batch quantities, when given required amounts appear at discrete points in time. The standard formulation assumes that no shortages are allowed and that replenishments are made instantaneously.

Classic inventory models use average cost functions. It is generally accepted that these models should account for the time value of money. They do so not by considering the timing of cash-flows, but by including opportunity costs. The Net Present Value (NPV) framework has long been used to...

We present a location routing model that considers the requirements of real-world small package shippers. It integrates the choice between self-operating and subcontracting a depot. Furthermore, we consider the relocation costs which occur when established networks are restructured. We present a...