New Trends in Distribution Logistics

The globalization of markets has reinforced the interest in logistics. A constantly raising level of competition among companies stresses the need for improved logistic processes, in terms of cost reduction and increased service level. The book covers the main problems of distribution logistics: network design and location problems, tactical and operational planning of transport, internal logistics, and inventory management. The book contains a rigorous methodological approach with an emphasis on practical problems. Two survey papers provide references and open problems.

1: Warehouse Location and Network Design. - On Planning and Design of Logistics Systems for Uncertain Environments. - Reviewing Distribution Issues in Reverse Logistics. - Network Design in Reverse Logistics: A Quantitative Model. - Decision Support for Designing Cooperative Distribution Networks. - A Depot Location-Allocation Problem of a Food Producer with an Outsourcing Option. - 2: Transport Planning and Scheduling. - Logistics Network Design Evaluation in a Dynamic Environment. - Models and Algorithms for the Minimization of Inventory and Transportation Costs: A Survey. - Transport and Inventory Planning with Discrete Shipment Times. - Deterministic Order-up-to Level Strategies for the Minimization of the Logistic Costs in Distribution Systems. - 3: Operations within the Warehouse. - Using Multiple Load Vehicles for Internal Transport with Batch Arrivals of Loads. - Reduction of Walking Time in the Distribution Center of De Bijenkorf. . - Distributing Material Flows in a Manufacturing System with Large Product Mix: Two Models Based on Column Generation. - 4: Inventory Control. - An Overview of Inventory Systems with Several Demand Classes. - Staggering Periodic Replenishments. - Multiple Criteria Rationing in Divergent Echelon Systems.