This paper studies a buy-back contract between a buyer and a backup supplier when the buyer's main supplier experiences disruptions. The expected profit functions and the optimal decisions of the contract players are derived through a sequential optimization process. The common properties of the...

In this paper, the authors focus on examining the coordination mechanisms for a two-stage supply chain comprising one supplier and one retailer. The authors consider such a channel relationship that the transaction quantity between the two members is sensitive to the supplier’s inventory...

As supply chains are becoming more dependent upon suppliers, the importance of using backup supply is receiving increasing attention. The objective of this paper is to develop a set of models to facilitate manufacturers/buyers’ decision as to when to use a backup supply if the main supply...

Details about the movement of trucks on postal express lines are investigated to improve the performances of mail distribution. A mixed driving pattern of trucks is introduced to minimize the transportation cost of a postal express line network with a service level requirement. We formulate this...