Evaluating the effects of distribution centres on the performance of vendor-managed inventory systems

This paper evaluates the effects of the distribution centre (DC) in a vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system comprising one manufacturer, one DC and n retailers. Adopting the order-up-to-level (OUL) replenishment policy, the system aims to maximize the overall system profit. We propose a model to evaluate the system performance by considering the scale of the distribution network, influential cost factors, demand distribution, planning horizon, and facility locations. From the viewpoint of a supply chain, we examine the DC’s effects on the system in terms of net profit. Our findings reveal that the DC has effects on demand variance and system profit, and there are some dominant factors that affect the overall system performance. The DC may lead to different system performance under a variety of cost factors, and in some situations, the DC may negatively affect system performance. We also suggest some innovative uses of the DC’s location to help enhance system performance.     

A bi-level programming model and solution algorithm for the location of logistics distribution centers

In this paper, by considering benefits of customers and logistics planning departments, a bi-level programming model is presented to seek the optimal location for logistics distribution centers. The upper-level model is to determine the optimal location by minimizing the planners’ cost, and the lower gives an equilibrium demand distribution by minimizing the customers’ cost. Based on the special form of constraints, a simple heuristic algorithm is proposed. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the application of the method, which shows that the algorithm is feasible and advantageous.     

The impact of cost uncertainty on the location of a distribution center

The location of a distribution center (DC) is a key consideration for the design of supply chain networks. When deciding on it, firms usually allow for transportation costs, but not supplier prices. We consider simultaneously the location of a DC and the choice of suppliers offering different, possibly random, prices for a single product. A buying firm attempts to minimize the sum of the price charged by a chosen supplier, and inbound and outbound transportation costs. No costs are incurred for switching suppliers. We first derive a closed-form optimal location for the case of a demand-populated unit line between two suppliers offering deterministic prices. We then let one of the two suppliers offer a random price. If the price follows a symmetric and unimodal distribution, the optimal location is closer to the supplier with a lower mean price. We also show the dominance of high variability: the buyer can decrease the total cost more for higher price variability for any location. The dominance result holds for normal, uniform, and gamma distributions. We propose an extended model with more than two suppliers on a plane and show that the dominance result still holds. From numerical examples for a line and a plane, we observe that an optimal location gets closer to the center of gravity of demands as the variability of any supplier’s price increases.     

An analytical methodology for assessment of smart monitoring impact on future electric power distribution system reliability

Smart grid is referred to a modernized power grid which can mitigate fault detection and allow self‐healing of the system without the intervention of operators. This article proposes an innovative analytical formulation using Markov method to evaluate electric power distribution system reliability in smart grids, which incorporates the impact of smart monitoring on the overall system reliability. An accurate reliability model of the main network components and the communication infrastructure have been also considered in the methodology. The proposed approach was applied to a well‐known test bed (Roy Billinton Test System) and various reliability case studies with monitoring provision and monitoring deficiency are analyzed. This article involves the developing possibilities of communication technologies and next‐generation control systems of the entire smart network based on the real‐time monitoring and modern control system to achieve a reliable, economical, safe, and high efficiency of electricity. The implementations indicate that using an appropriate set of the smart grid monitoring devices for power system components can virtually influence all the reliability indices although the amount of improvement varies between techniques. The proposed approach determined that smart monitoring for which components of the electric power distribution systems are tailored and deduce to major economical benefits. The described approach also reveals which reliability indices drastically influenced using monitoring. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 99–113, 2015     

关于我国体质指数BMI的分布研究

生活水平的提高,使肥胖症患的人数逐年增加。大量研究证明,肥胖是诱发高血压、冠心病、糖尿病、高脂血症等慢性病的一种主要危险因素,对肥胖症的预防是主要的。确定肥胖的一个简单而又有效的办法是利用世界卫生组织推荐的体质指数ＢＭＩ（Ｂｏｄｙ Ｍａｓｓ Ｉｎｄｅｘ）。本基于上海市延吉地区近万名３０岁以上成年人的调查结果,对体质指数的分布进行了研究,并利用被污染的正态分布族模型对其进行了拟合。     

基于系统动力学的供应链库存策略仿真研究

针对一个动态、多级的供应链库存系统,应用系统动力学的方法,建立了供应链(s,S)库存策略下的物流成本模型,并通过动态仿真,分析了库存策略的变动对于供应链库存系统各级成员间库存供需的动态行为,提出了(s,S)策略下的供应链库存系统的有效管理方法.     

Performance evaluation of distribution strategies for the inventory routing problem

Direct shipping strategy is an easy-to-implement distribution strategy frequently used in industrial distribution systems. In this paper, an analytic method is developed for performance evaluation of the strategy for the infinite horizon inventory routing problem with delivery frequency constraint. With the method, the effectiveness of direct shipping strategy can be represented as a function of some system parameters. We demonstrate that the effectiveness of direct shipping is at least the square root of the smallest utilization ratio of vehicle capacity. This implies that the effectiveness of the strategy can reach 100% (respectively, 94.86%) whenever the demand rate of each retailer is 100% (respectively, 90%) of the vehicle capacity multiplied by the upper bound of the delivery frequency. This insight can help a firm answer questions such as: under what conditions direct shipping strategy is effective and why, and how effective the strategy is under a specific condition? In case direct shipping strategy is proven ineffective, a more general Fixed Partition Policy (FPP) that combines direct shipping strategy and multiple-stop shipping strategy must be used. An analytic method is also developed for performance evaluation of general FPPs. We demonstrate that the effectiveness of an FPP depends on the total demand rate of the retailers in each partition (each retailer set) and their closeness level. This insight provides a useful guideline to the design of effective FPPs. The analytic methods make the performance improvement of a distribution system possible through adjusting its system parameters.     

An analytical approach to calculate the capacity of a railway system

Railway capacity is a concept that is not easily defined or quantified. Difficulties include the numerous interrelated factors present in the already complex structure of the railway layout. In this paper capacity is defined as the maximum number of trains that can traverse the entire railway in a given period of time, subject to management constraints (such as junction capacity, track capacity, line capacity and interference probability between trains). The proposed method is based on defining and solving an optimization problem which aims at finding out the capacity value of a railway system. It is not based on timetables and moreover it can indirectly take into account priorities between trains and possible delays; it is able to give the time occupation percentage in each component for each train category. It has been applied to a real-life case study showing the range of its validity and the possibility of application for any generic railway scheme.     

卧式加工中心早期故障间隔时间分布模型研究

运用回归分析和假设检验方法 ,对卧式加工中心早期故障间隔时间进行研究 ,找出早期故障间隔时间分布模型 ,求出卧式加工中心早期故障间隔时间的概率密度函数、分布函数及故障函数。卧式加工中心在早期故障期时 ,故障率曲线为递减型 ,间隔时间服从威布尔分布     

An approach to the study of multistate insurance contracts

We derive a matrix representation for formulas of moments of cash value of future payment streams arising from multistate insurance contract, where the evolution of the insured risk and the interest rate are random. As an application, we derive formulas for net single and period premiums. The general theory is illustrated with a case where the evolution of the insured risk is modeled by a Markov chain. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An analytical and numerical study of the Stefan problem with convection by means of an enthalpy method

In this paper, we consider a theoretical and numerical study of the Stefan problem with convection, described by the Navier–Stokes equations with no‐slip boundary conditions. The mathematical formulation adopted is based on the enthalpy method. The existence of a weak solution is proved in the bidimensional case. The numerical effectiveness of the model considered is confirmed by some numerical results. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An analytical study on the bond behaviour between an externally bonded FRP and concrete in the case of continuous beams

One of the greatest challenges in structural engineering nowadays is the strengthening, upgrading, and retrofitting of existing structures. The use of fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) bonded to the tension face of a structural member is an attractive technique in this field of application. The strengthening of reinforced concrete structures by means of an externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) is achieved by gluing a FRP laminate to the concrete substrate. For an efficient utilization of the FRP EBR systems, an effective stress transfer is required between the FRP and concrete. The paper discusses the bond behaviour between a FRP and concrete in the case of flexural strengthening of continuous beams. With respect to this type of beams, only a few studies have been reported, though continuous members often occur in concrete constructions. The structural behaviour of statically indeterminate elements is typically characterized by redistributions of the internal forces. These distributions are related to the nonlinear deformations of the beams and has also a distinct influence on the bond behaviour between the FRP and concrete. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 389–402, May–June, 2008.