随机需求下供应商管理库存的供应链模型

以一个供应商和一个零售商的两阶段供应链为背景,利用报童模型给出了供应商管理库存(VMI)的供应链模型,在需求服从均匀分布的条件下得出解析解,并与传统的零售商管理库存(RMI)系统作了比较,分析了这两种情况下批发价和订货量的变化.数值结果表明VMI导致了批发价的缩减,但提高了订货量,VMI减轻了双重边际效应,系统利润多于传统的RMI系统.     

供应商管理库存的渠道利润优化分析

本文研究了供应链管理的渠道利润问题。对有确定需求、有初始库存和库存短缺的一种畅销商品,建立了供应商管理库存的渠道利润模型。通过对此模型的进一步分析,证明了在短期激励下供应商管理库存的渠道利润优于一般库存的渠道利润;也证明了在长期激励下,供应商管理库存可以产生比短期激励下更优的渠道利润,也优于一般库存的渠道利润。这一结果对于供应链环境下的库存管理在理论和工程上具有实际意义。     

A genetic algorithm for optimal operating parameters of VMI system in a two-echelon supply chain

This paper deals with the operational issues of a two-echelon single vendor–multiple buyers supply chain (TSVMBSC) model under vendor managed inventory (VMI) mode of operation. The operational parameters to the above model are: sales quantity and sales price that determine the channel profit of the supply chain, and contract price between the vendor and the buyer, which depends upon the understanding between the partners on their revenue sharing. In order to find out the optimal sales quantity for each buyer in TSVMBSC problem, a mathematical model is formulated. Optimal sales price and acceptable contract price at different revenue share are subsequently derived with the optimal sales quantity. A genetic algorithm (GA) based heuristic is proposed to solve this TSVMBSC problem, which belongs to nonlinear integer programming problem (NIP). The proposed methodology is evaluated for its solution quality. Furthermore, the robustness of the model with its parameters, which fluctuate frequently and are sensitive to operational features, is analysed.     

Hybrid algorithm for a vendor managed inventory system in a two-echelon supply chain

In this paper we address the issue of vendor managed inventory (VMI) by considering a two-echelon single vendor/multiple buyer supply chain network. We try to find the optimal sales quantity by maximizing profit, given as a nonlinear and non-convex objective function. For such complicated combinatorial optimization problems, exact algorithms and optimization commercial software such as LINGO are inefficient, especially on practical-size problems. In this paper we develop a hybrid genetic/simulated annealing algorithm to deal with this nonlinear problem. Our results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid algorithm outperforms previous methodologies and achieves more robust solutions.     

外部市场存在替代产品的VMI系统研究

供应商管理用户库存(VMI)作为一种有效的补货机制,能对购买渠道的需求信息做出积极正确的反应.现在对VMI的研究往往集中于单个零售商和单个供应商组成的系统,不考虑VMI系统受市场上其他零售商或供应商的影响.假设市场上多个零售商出售相互之间可替代的产品,某个零售商与其供应商之间应用VMI系统.我们的研究主要有两方面:1)VMI系统是否有助于零售商和供应商组成的供应链在差异产品市场上获得更大的收益;2)供应商和零售商如何决策是否应用VMI系统。     

A solution approach to the inventory routing problem in a three-level distribution system

We consider the infinite horizon inventory routing problem in a three-level distribution system with a vendor, a warehouse and multiple geographically dispersed retailers. In this problem, each retailer faces a demand at a deterministic, retailer-specific rate for a single product. The demand of each retailer is replenished either from the vendor through the warehouse or directly from the vendor. Inventories are kept at both the retailers and the warehouse. The objective is to determine a combined transportation (routing) and inventory strategy minimizing a long-run average system-wide cost while meeting the demand of each retailer without shortage. We present a decomposition solution approach based on a fixed partition policy where the retailers are partitioned into disjoint and collectively exhaustive sets and each set of retailers is served on a separate route. Given a fixed partition, the original problem is decomposed into three sub-problems. Efficient algorithms are developed for the sub-problems by exploring important properties of their optimal solutions. A genetic algorithm is proposed to find a near-optimal fixed partition for the problem. Computational results show the performance of the solution approach.     

基于两层供应链的VMI系统可行性分析研究

一般来说，供应商管理用户库存（VMI）能够给购买方带来更高的利润，而对供货方的影响却是不确定的。而现实中很多VMI策略都是由购买方主导的，购买方一般不愿和供货方分享收益，因此供货方必须自己判断是否接受VMI策略。本文在基于对安徽奇瑞汽车集团的零部件库存进行的调查的基础上，对VMI系统可行性分析的研究分两步进行：（1）假设供货方已经接受了购买方主导的VMI策略，它如何制定自己的最优送货策略；（2）通过比较供货方分别在RMI和VMI下的最小成本，供货方决定是否接受购买方主导的VMI策略。     

A practical solution approach for the cyclic inventory routing problem

Vendor managed inventory (VMI) is an example of effective cooperation and partnering practices between up- and downstream stages in a supply chain. In VMI, the supplier takes the responsibility for replenishing his customers’ inventories based on their consumption data, with the aim of optimizing the over all distribution and inventory costs throughout the supply chain. This paper discusses the challenging optimization problem that arises in this context, known as the inventory routing problem (IRP). The objective of this IRP problem is to determine a distribution plan that minimizes average distribution and inventory costs without causing any stock-out at the customers. Deterministic constant customer demand rates are assumed and therefore, a long-term cyclical approach is adopted, integrating fleet sizing, vehicle routing, and inventory management. Further, realistic side-constraints such as limited storage capacities, driving time restrictions and constant replenishment intervals are taken into account. A heuristic solution approach is proposed, analyzed and evaluated against a comparable state-of-the-art heuristic.     

Vendor managed inventory contracts – coordinating the supply chain while looking from the vendor’s perspective

The paper studies coordination of a supply chain when the inventory is managed by the vendor (VMI). We also provide a general mathematical framework that can be used to analyze contracts under both retailer managed inventory (RMI) and VMI. Using a simple newsvendor scenario with a single vendor and single retailer, we study five popular coordinating supply chain contracts: buyback, quantity flexibility, quantity discount, sales rebate, and revenue sharing contracts. We analyze the ability of these contracts to coordinate the supply chain under VMI when the vendor freely decides the quantity. We find that even though all of them coordinate under RMI, quantity flexibility and sales rebate contracts do not generally coordinate under VMI. Furthermore, buyback and revenue sharing contracts are equivalent. Hence, we propose two new contracts which coordinate under VMI (one of which coordinates under RMI too, provided a well-known assumption holds). Finally, we extend our analysis to consider multiple independent retailers with the vendor incurring linear or convex production cost, and show that our results are qualitatively unchanged.     

Inventory management for dual sales channels with inventory-level-dependent demand

This paper studies the inventory management problem of dual channels operated by one vendor. Demands of dual channels are inventory-level-dependent. We propose a multi-period stochastic dynamic programming model which shows that under mild conditions, the myopic inventory policy is optimal for the infinite horizon problem. To investigate the importance of capturing demand dependency on inventory levels, we consider a heuristic where the vendor ignores demand dependency on inventory levels, and compare the optimal inventory levels with those recommended by the heuristic. Through numerical examples, we show that the vendor may order less for dual channels than those recommended by the heuristic, and the difference between the inventory levels in the two cases can be so large that the demand dependency on inventory levels cannot be neglected. In the end, we numerically examine the impact of different ways to treat unmet demand and obtain some managerial insights.     

Adaptive fuzzy vendor managed inventory control for mitigating the Bullwhip effect in supply chains

This paper proposes an adaptive fuzzy control application to support a vendor managed inventory (VMI). The methodology applies fuzzy control to generate an adaptive smoothing constant in the forecast method, production and delivery plan to eliminate, for example, the rationing and gaming or the Houlihan effect and the order batching effect or the Burbidge effects and finally the Bullwhip effect. The results show that the adaptive fuzzy VMI control surpasses fuzzy VMI control and traditional VMI in terms of mitigating the Bullwhip effect and lower delivery overshoots and backorders. This paper also guides management in allocating inventory by coordinating suppliers and buyers to ensure minimum inventory levels across a supply chain. Adaptive fuzzy VMI control is the main contribution of this paper.     

基于ROI,VMI和CS三种库存方式长短期绩效的对比研究

ROI、VMI和Cs是基于供应链的三种库存管理方式.本文以两层供应链的ROI、VMI和CS方式为例,通过数学模型和具体算例,比较分析了三种库存方式下买方和卖方成本和利润构成的不同之处.本文研究发现:在长期内相对于ROI方式而言,VMI方式下供应链的效率更高;如果卖方的单位存储成本大于买方,CS方式下供应链的长短期效率可能高于VMI更高于ROI方式.     

An optimal batch size for integrated production–inventory policy in a supply chain

This study presents a new integrated production–inventory policy under a finite planning horizon and a linear trend in demand. We assume that the vendor makes a single product and supplies it to a buyer with a non-periodic and just-in-time (JIT) replenishment policy in a supply chain environment. The objective is to minimize the joint total costs incurred by the vendor and the buyer. In this study, first, we develop a mathematical model and prove that it has the optimal solution. Then, we describe an explicit solution procedure for obtaining the optimal solution. Finally, we provide two numerical examples to illustrate both increasing and decreasing demands in our proposed model, and we show that the performance of the integrated consideration is better than the performance of any independent decision from either the buyer or the vendor.     

考虑横向整合战略的库存路径动态区域定价

库存路径和定价是供货商管理库存(Vendor Management Inventory, VMI)中三个互相制约和影响的决策问题,是降低供货商成本,提高其利润的关键。针对VMI拉式供应链中多供货商、多商品和多区域的库存路径定价问题,提出了对不同区域客户、在不同时段进行商品差异化定价策略,并设计一种共同配送车辆司机成本和燃油成本分摊方案,据此构建基于横向整合战略的库存路径动态区域定价模型。算例结果显示,在横向整合战略下,供货商商品定价会有所降低,配送车辆行驶距离显著缩短,各时段配货量更为均衡,期末库存数量显著降低。研究表明,无论供货商之间供货规模比例差异多大,开展库存路径动态区域定价,供货商联盟成员的利润均能得到显著提高,实现合作共赢的目标。     

在允许缺货情况下的易变质产品供应商管理库存

本首先通过解析推导给出了一个考虑一个供应商和多个不同的订货商，并且允许订货商缺货的易腐商品供应商管理库存VMI(Vendor Managed Inventory)模型；其次通过mathematica4．2软件计算。给出了算例及其最优解，并通过灵敏度分析讨论了单位缺货成本和变质率对库存决策的影响；最后给出了总结，说明了研究的意义。     

Inventory sharing in integrated network design and inventory optimization with low-demand parts

Service Parts Logistics (SPL) problems induce strong interaction between network design and inventory stocking due to high costs and low demands of parts and response time based service requirements. These pressures motivate the inventory sharing practice among stocking facilities. We incorporate inventory sharing effects within a simplified version of the integrated SPL problem, capturing the sharing fill rates in 2-facility inventory sharing pools. The problem decides which facilities in which pools should be stocked and how the demand should be allocated to stocked facilities, given full inventory sharing between the facilities within each pool so as to minimize the total facility, inventory and transportation costs subject to a time-based service level constraint. Our analysis for the single pool problem leads us to model this otherwise non-linear integer optimization problem as a modified version of the binary knapsack problem. Our numerical results show that a greedy heuristic for a network of 100 facilities is on average within 0.12% of the optimal solution. Furthermore, we observe that a greater degree of sharing occurs when a large amount of customer demands are located in the area overlapping the time windows of both facilities in 2-facility pools.     

A simple procedure for determining order quantities under a fill rate constraint and normally distributed lead-time demand

One of the most common practical inventory control problems is considered. A single-echelon inventory system is controlled by a continuous review (R, Q) policy. The lead-time demand is normally distributed. We wish to minimize holding and ordering costs under a fill rate constraint. Although, it is not especially complicated to derive the optimal solution, it is much more common in practice to use a simple approximate two-step procedure where the order quantity is determined from a deterministic model in the first step. We provide an alternative, equally simple technique, which is based on the observation that the considered problem for each considered fill rate has a single parameter only. The optimal solution for a grid of parameter values is stored in a file. When solving the problem for an item we use interpolation, or for parameter values outside the grid special approximations. The approximation errors turn out to be negligible. As an alternative to the interpolation we also provide polynomial approximations.     

Joint pricing and inventory replenishment decisions with returns and expediting

We study a single-item periodic-review model for the joint pricing and inventory replenishment problem with returns and expediting. Demand in consecutive periods are independent random variables and their distributions are price sensitive. At the end of each period, after the demand is realized, a buyer can return excess stocks to a supplier. Or, if there are stockouts, the buyer can place an expediting order at the supplier to reduce the amount of shortage. Unfilled demands are fully backlogged. We characterize the optimal dynamic policy that determines the pricing, inventory replenishment, and adjustment decisions in each period so that the total expected discounted profit is maximized. For a very general stochastic demand function, we can show that the optimal replenishment policy is a modified base-stock policy, the optimal pricing policy is a modified base-stock-list-price policy, and the optimal policy for inventory adjustment follows a dual-threshold policy. We further study the operational effect of returns and expediting. Analytical and numerical results demonstrate that returns and expediting lead to a significant profit increase in a number of situations, including limited supply capacity, sufficient flexibility of the expediting order, high demand uncertainty, and a price-sensitive market.     

A note on the inventory models for deteriorating items with ramp type demand rate

In this research we study the inventory models for deteriorating items with ramp type demand rate. We first clearly point out some questionable results that appeared in (Mandal, B., Pal, A.K., 1998. Order level inventory system with ramp type demand rate for deteriorating items. Journal of Interdisciplinary Mathematics 1, 49–66 and Wu, K.S., Ouyang, L.Y., 2000. A replenishment policy for deteriorating items with ramp type demand rate (Short Communication). Proceedings of National Science Council ROC (A) 24, 279–286). And then resolve the similar problem by offering a rigorous and efficient method to derive the optimal solution. In addition, we also propose an extended inventory model with ramp type demand rate and its optimal feasible solution to amend the incompleteness in the previous work. Moreover, we also proposed a very good inventory replenishment policy for this kind of inventory model. We believe that our work will provide a solid foundation for the further study of this sort of important inventory models with ramp type demand rate.     

Modelling imperfect advance demand information and analysis of optimal inventory policies

We consider an inventory control problem where it is possible to collect some imperfect information on future demand. We refer to such information as imperfect Advance Demand Information (ADI), which may occur in different forms of applications. A simple example is a company that uses sales representatives to market its products, in which case the collection of sales representatives’ information as to the number of customers interested in a product can generate an indication about the future sales of that product, hence it constitutes imperfect ADI. Other applications include internet retailing, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) applications and Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (CPFR) environments. We develop a model that incorporates imperfect ADI with ordering decisions. Under our system settings, we show that the optimal policy is of order-up-to type, where the order level is a function of imperfect ADI. We also provide some characterizations of the optimal solution. We develop an expression for the expected cost benefits of imperfect ADI for the myopic problem. Our analytical and empirical findings reveal the conditions under which imperfect ADI is more valuable.