具有单向转载的Newsboy型产品订货决策的博弈模型

研究了允许单向横向转载的Newsboy型产品的订货决策问题。以两个Newsboy型零售商为研究对象,在允许单向横向转载存在的前提下,构建了以二者期望利润最大化为目标的非合作博弈模型,讨论了模型存在纳什均衡解的条件并证明了解的存在性与唯一性,给出了均衡解的解析表达形式,进一步分析了转载价格对均衡的影响。最后的算例分析则从期望利润、均衡订货和转载价格三个方面验证了横向转载策略的优势。研究表明:(1)与传统报童模型相比,横向转载策略提高了零售商的期望利润;(2)转载价格显著影响横向转载策略下零售商的订货决策。     

Inventory pooling of repairable spare parts with non-zero lateral transshipment time and delayed lateral transshipments

In this paper, we develop an analytical model to estimate several performance measures in a single-item, multi-company, repairable inventory system where complete pooling of stock is permitted among the companies. Compared to previous research, this paper is different in that both non-zero lateral transshipment time and delayed lateral transshipments are considered in the model. We model the system as a multi-dimensional Markovian problem and solve it using a two-stage solution method. The proposed method is very accurate and computationally efficient.     

A Semi-Markov decision problem for proactive and reactive transshipments between multiple warehouses

Lateral transshipments are an effective strategy to pool inventories. We present a Semi-Markov decision problem formulation for proactive and reactive transshipments in a multi-location continuous review distribution inventory system with Poisson demand and one-for-one replenishment policy. For a two-location model we state the monotonicity of an optimal policy. In a numerical study, we compare the benefits of proactive and different reactive transshipment rules. The benefits of proactive transshipments are the largest for networks with intermediate opportunities of demand pooling and the difference between alternative reactive transshipment rules is negligible.     

Enhanced lateral transshipments in a multi-location inventory system

In managing an inventory network, two approaches to the pooling of stock have been proposed. Reactive transshipments respond to shortages at a location by moving inventory from elsewhere within the network, while proactive stock redistribution seeks to minimize the chance of future stockouts. This paper is the first to propose an enhanced reactive approach in which individual transshipments are viewed as an opportunity for proactive stock redistribution. We adopt a quasi-myopic approach to the development of a strongly performing enhanced reactive transshipment policy. In comparison to a purely reactive approach to transshipment, service levels are improved while a reduction in safety stock levels is achieved. The aggregate costs incurred in managing the system are significantly reduced, especially so for large networks. Moreover, an optimal policy is determined for small networks and it is shown that the enhanced reactive policy substantially closes the gap to optimality.     

A new partial pooling structure for spare parts networks

Motivated by real-life spare parts networks, we introduce a new spare parts inventory model with lateral transshipment. We consider a multi-item, multi-location, single-echelon system with base stock control and aggregate mean waiting time constraints. The local warehouses are divided into two types: main and regular local warehouses. Lateral transshipment is allowed from main local warehouses only. A practical advantage of this structure is that only a limited number of local warehouses has to be equipped to provide lateral transshipment. This structure represents a new form of partial pooling, with no pooling (zero main locals) and full pooling (zero regular locals) as special cases. We develop an accurate and fast approximate evaluation method, and exploit this method in a heuristic procedure for the base stock level determination. We show that only a small number of main locals is sufficient to obtain most of the full pooling benefits. We also apply our methods to case data of ASML, an original equipment manufacturer in the semiconductor supplier industry. As a result of our work ASML was able to improve spare parts planning.     

具有位相型随机补货提前期的PH退化可修系统及其最优更换策略

将几何过程与PH分布相结合, 讨论一个带有位相型随机补货提前期的PH退化可修系统.通过建立最小生成元$Q$矩阵,获得了系统在稳态情形下的状态概率分布向量及其数值解.根据上述研究结果同时也得到了系统的几个重要可靠性指标. 进一步地,还考虑了基于部件故障次数的订购策略和更换策略,导出系统单位时间平均运行成本的解析表达式并给出一个确定最优$N$策略的数值算例.     

Optimal Solutions in the Multi-location Inventory System with Transshipments

We consider a single-period multi-location inventory system where inventory choices at each location are centrally coordinated. Transshipments are allowed as recourse actions in order to reduce the cost of shortage or surplus inventory after demands are realized. This problem has not been solved to optimality before for more than two locations with general cost parameters. In this paper we present a simple and intuitive model that enables us to characterize optimal inventory and transshipment policies for three and four locations as well. The insight gained from these analytical results leads us to examine the optimality conditions of a greedy transshipment policy. We show that this policy will be optimal for two and three locations. For the n location model we characterize the necessary and sufficient conditions on the cost structure for which the greedy transshipment policy will be optimal.      

Ruin probability and time of ruin with a proportional reinsurance threshold strategy

In this paper, we present a threshold proportional reinsurance strategy and we analyze the effect on some solvency measures: ruin probability and time of ruin. This dynamic reinsurance strategy assumes a retention level that is not constant and depends on the level of the surplus. In a model with inter-occurrence times being generalized Erlang(n)-distributed, we obtain the integro-differential equation for the Gerber?CShiu function. Then, we present the solution for inter-occurrence times exponentially distributed and claim amount phase-type(N). Some examples for exponential and phase-type(2) claim amount are presented. Finally, we show some comparisons between threshold reinsurance and proportional reinsurance.     

基于批发价契约的多零售商横向转载的供应链协调

研究了多零售商横向转载的供应链批发价契约协调问题。以包含一个制造商和多个零售商的供应链系统为研究对象,基于批发价契约研究了零售商转载下的供应链协调问题,获取了批发价契约可以协调零售商存在横向转载的供应链的理论证据,并给出了相应的产生供应链协调的条件,详细分析了协调情形下供应链系统最优订货量与多零售商无转载及单报童等情形下的最优订货量之间的关系。进一步研究了制造商与零售商在Stackelberg博弈下,零售商横向转载对制造商收益的影响,并提出了在Stackelberg博弈模型中,批发价契约也有可能促使制造商选择供应链系统最优订货量所对应的批发价格,使得供应链协调,且给出了此种协调产生的具体条件。数值算例则对两种供应链协调情形下的订货量、批发价格及期望收益进行了计算与仿真。研究表明,批发价契约可能会使得多零售商存在转载的供应链实现协调,传统的双重边际化效应将会由于制造商和零售商的理性而被弱化。     

A phase-type geometric process repair model with spare device procurement and repairman’s multiple vacations

This paper analyzes a phase-type geometric process repair model with spare device procurement lead time and repairman’s multiple vacations. The repairman may mean here the human beings who are used to repair the failed device. When the device functions smoothly, the repairman leaves the system for a vacation, the duration of which is an exponentially distributed random variable. In vacation period, the repairman can perform other secondary jobs to make some extra profits for the system. The lifetimes and the repair times of the device are governed by phase-type distributions (PH distributions), and the condition of device following repair is not “as good as new”. After a prefixed number of repairs, the device is replaced by a new and identical one. The spare device for replacement is available only by an order and the procurement lead time for delivering the spare device also follows a PH distribution. Under these assumptions, the vector-valued Markov process governing the system is constructed, and several important performance measures are studied in transient and stationary regimes. Furthermore, employing the standard results in renewal reward process, the explicit expression of the long-run average profit rate for the system is derived. Meanwhile, the optimal maintenance policy is also numerically determined.     

Phase-type distribution of customer relationship with Markovian response and marketing expenditure decision on the customer lifetime value

In recent years, more and more companies have adopted relationship marketing (RM). At the core of RM is the development and maintenance of long-term relationships with valuable customers. In RM, the customer lifetime value (CLV) is the discounted profit streams of a customer across the entire customer life cycle. The CLV plays a key role in customer acquisition and retention decisions. In this paper, we present a general mathematical framework for RM, and introduce a Markov chain model which is appropriate in modeling RM because of its flexibility and probabilistic nature. We also develop the life distribution of the customer relationship, which is a phase-type distribution since it is the distribution of the first arrival stopping state. And we obtain the expectation of the CLV, which is an important statistic for good decision-making. Finally, we illustrate how to find the optimal remarketing policy numerically. The framework developed for RM systems in this paper should be seen as a practical approach to RM where one can directly apply the results of phase-type distribution and expectation of CLV to marketing decisions.     

Experimenting with the Coxian Phase-Type Distribution to Uncover Suitable Fits

In the past few decades, Coxian phase-type distributions have become increasingly more popular as a means of representing survival times. In healthcare, they are considered suitable for modelling the length of stay of patients in hospital and more recently for modelling the patient waiting times in Accident and Emergency Departments. The Coxian phase-type distribution has not only been shown to provide a good representation of real survival data, but its interpretation seems reasonably initiative to the medical experts. The drawback, however, is fitting the distribution to the data. There have been many attempts at accurately estimating the Coxian phase-type parameters. This paper wishes to examine the most promising of the approaches reported in the literature to determine the most accurate. Three performance measures are introduced to assess the fitting process of the algorithms along with the likelihood values and AIC to examine the goodness of fit and complexity of the model. Previous research suggests that the fitting process is strongly influenced by the initial parameter estimates and the data itself being quite variable. To overcome this, one experiment in this research paper will use the same initial parameter values for each estimation and perform the fits on the data simulated from a Coxian phase-type distribution with known parameters.     

带干扰phaes-type风险模型中的最大盈余及相关分布

本文考虑了索赔时间间距为phase-type分布时带干扰更新风险模型中的破产前最大盈余、破产后赤字的分布,建立了相应的积分-微分方程.最后,讨论了当索赔时间间距为Erlang(2)分布且索赔量满足指数分布时的特殊情形.     

服务系统中位相型分布的随机比较

本文运用应用概率中的随机占优研究位相型(PH)分布的随机比较问题,具体给出在一阶、二阶随机占优下比较两个离散PH分布或两个连续PH分布的充分条件及充分必要条件。研究表明,比较两个离散PH分布可变性的条件与比较两个连续PH分布可变性的条件不同,在二阶随机占优意义下比较两个连续PH分布的条件与均值无关,而比较两个离散PH分布的条件与均值有关。本文的结果可用于研究PH分布的最小变异系数问题和可变性问题,也可用于研究带有PH到达间隔或PH服务的排队系统中到达过程或服务时间可变性对系统队长或等待时间的影响。     

An inventory model with unidirectional lateral transshipments

This paper deals with a continuous review inventory system with Poisson demand, in which lateral transshipments are allowed. In case of a shortage at a location, another location acts as a supplier, if it is possible. A common assumption in earlier papers is that transshipments are allowed between all locations. This network configuration may, however, not be the best choice for many reasons. One such reason is that it may be difficult to establish contracts between locations regarding the design of the transshipment policy. Another reason is that a system with many transshipment links is much more complex than a system with few transshipment links. In this paper, we study a system where transshipments are allowed only in one direction. This may be a reasonable policy if the locations have very different backorder/lost sales costs. Our approach is relatively simple and fast, and works well in most cases.     

Inventory control using a service constraint on the expected customer order waiting time

In this paper an analytical model is presented which permits the determination of the minimal inventory reorder point subject to (a) a maximum specified expected customer order waiting time or (b) a maximum specified probability of a customer order waiting more than a predetermined time span. The probability distribution of the customer order waiting time is determined for an arbitrary demand distribution (e.g. normal, gamma or exponential) and under stochastic replenishment lead time conditions by use of arguments from renewal theory. The results established can be used for the customer-oriented control of inventory policy as well as for the analysis of multi-echelon inventory systems.     

基于几何过程和位相分布休假的两部件并联可修系统的可靠性分析

主要以两不同型部件组成的并联可修系统为研究对象.在系统对失效相位存在记忆的基础上,考虑了修理工可单重休假且休假时间服从位相(PH)分布.每个工作部件均有可能因受到两种不同类型的故障而失效,且均"修复非新".在假定部件的工作时间,修理时间分别服从PH分布的几何过程和负指数分布的条件下,利用马尔可夫过程和矩阵分析的方法,对可修系统进行了可靠性分析,并给出了相应可靠性指标的数值算例.     

Approximate evaluation of multi-location inventory models with lateral transshipments and hold back levels

We consider a continuous-time, single-echelon, multi-location inventory model with Poisson demand processes. In case of a stock-out at a local warehouse, a demand can be fulfilled via a lateral transshipment (LT). Each warehouse is assigned a pre-determined sequence of other warehouses where it will request for an LT. However, a warehouse can hold its last part(s) back from such a request. This is called a hold back pooling policy, where each warehouse has hold back levels determining whether a request for an LT by another warehouse is satisfied. We are interested in the fractions of demand satisfied from stock (fill rate), via an LT, and via an emergency procedure from an external source. From these, the average costs of a policy can be determined. We present a new approximation algorithm for the evaluation of a given policy, approximating the above mentioned fractions. Whereas algorithms currently known in the literature approximate the stream of LT requests from a warehouse by a Poisson process, we use an interrupted Poisson process. This is a process that is turned alternatingly On and Off for exponentially distributed durations. This leads to the On/Off overflow algorithm. In a numerical study we show that this algorithm is significantly more accurate than the algorithm based on Poisson processes, although it requires a longer computation time. Furthermore, we show the benefits of hold back levels, and we illustrate how our algorithm can be used in a heuristic search for the setting of the hold back levels.     

Corrected phase-type approximations of heavy-tailed risk models using perturbation analysis

Numerical evaluation of performance measures in heavy-tailed risk models is an important and challenging problem. In this paper, we construct very accurate approximations of such performance measures that provide small absolute and relative errors. Motivated by statistical analysis, we assume that the claim sizes are a mixture of a phase-type and a heavy-tailed distribution and with the aid of perturbation analysis we derive a series expansion for the performance measure under consideration. Our proposed approximations consist of the first two terms of this series expansion, where the first term is a phase-type approximation of our measure. We refer to our approximations collectively as corrected phase-type approximations. We show that the corrected phase-type approximations exhibit a nice behavior both in finite and infinite time horizon, and we check their accuracy through numerical experiments.