IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jomega/v102y2021ics0305048320307106.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Inventory replenishment planning of a distribution system with storage capacity constraints and multi-channel order fulfilment

Author

Listed:
  • Dai, B.
  • Chen, H.X.
  • Li, Y.A.
  • Zhang, Y.D.
  • Wang, X.Q.
  • Deng, Y.M.

Abstract

In this paper, an inventory replenishment planning problem in a two-echelon distribution system of Alibaba with a central distribution centre (CDC) and multiple front distribution centers (FDCs) is studied. In the system, the CDC replenishes its inventories of multiple products from external suppliers, while each FDC replenishes its inventories of the products from the CDC. These products are jointly replenished at each stock. This problem arises when Alibaba prepares its annual “double 11” promotion. Facing stochastic demands of the products in the promotion period, the objective of the problem is to optimally determine the inventory replenishment quantities of the products for each stock before the promotion so that the expected total profit of the system is maximized, subject to the storage capacity constraint of each stock. During the promotion, customer orders may be fulfilled through multiple channels, that is, a customer order may be fulfilled by its local FDC, other FDCs, or the CDC. This stochastic optimization problem is formulated as a convex nonlinear programming model and solved optimally by a piecewise linear approximation approach. The effectiveness of the model and the approach is demonstrated by numerical experiments on instances generated based on data of Alibaba. The results show that our model can lead to a significantly higher expected total profit compared with a deterministic planning model.

Suggested Citation

  • Dai, B. & Chen, H.X. & Li, Y.A. & Zhang, Y.D. & Wang, X.Q. & Deng, Y.M., 2021. "Inventory replenishment planning of a distribution system with storage capacity constraints and multi-channel order fulfilment," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jomega:v:102:y:2021:i:c:s0305048320307106
    DOI: 10.1016/j.omega.2020.102356
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305048320307106
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.omega.2020.102356?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Khouja, Moutaz, 1999. "The single-period (news-vendor) problem: literature review and suggestions for future research," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 537-553, October.
    2. Qiu, Yuzhuo & Qiao, Jun & Pardalos, Panos M., 2019. "Optimal production, replenishment, delivery, routing and inventory management policies for products with perishable inventory," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 193-204.
    3. de Kok, Ton & Grob, Christopher & Laumanns, Marco & Minner, Stefan & Rambau, Jörg & Schade, Konrad, 2018. "A typology and literature review on stochastic multi-echelon inventory models," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 269(3), pages 955-983.
    4. Qin, Yan & Wang, Ruoxuan & Vakharia, Asoo J. & Chen, Yuwen & Seref, Michelle M.H., 2011. "The newsvendor problem: Review and directions for future research," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 213(2), pages 361-374, September.
    5. Y. Emre Kılıç & Umut Rıfat Tuzkaya, 2015. "A two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming approach to physical distribution network design," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(4), pages 1291-1306, February.
    6. Verrijdt, J. H. C. M. & de Kok, A. G., 1995. "Distribution planning for a divergent N-echelon network without intermediate stocks under service restrictions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(2-3), pages 225-243, March.
    7. Bailey, Joseph P. & Rabinovich, Elliot, 2005. "Internet book retailing and supply chain management: an analytical study of inventory location speculation and postponement," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 159-177, May.
    8. Agatz, Niels A.H. & Fleischmann, Moritz & van Nunen, Jo A.E.E., 2008. "E-fulfillment and multi-channel distribution - A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 187(2), pages 339-356, June.
    9. M. Fattahi & M. Mahootchi & S.M. Moattar Husseini & E. Keyvanshokooh & F. Alborzi, 2015. "Investigating replenishment policies for centralised and decentralised supply chains using stochastic programming approach," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 41-69, January.
    10. Ishfaq, Rafay & Bajwa, Naeem, 2019. "Profitability of online order fulfillment in multi-channel retailing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 272(3), pages 1028-1040.
    11. Chung, Chia-Shin & Flynn, James & Stalinski, Piotr, 2007. "A single-period inventory placement problem for a supply chain with the expected profit objective," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 178(3), pages 767-781, May.
    12. Wang, Wei & Fung, Richard Y. K. & Chai, Yueting, 2004. "Approach of just-in-time distribution requirements planning for supply chain management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(2), pages 101-107, September.
    13. G. Guastaroba & M. G. Speranza & D. Vigo, 2016. "Intermediate Facilities in Freight Transportation Planning: A Survey," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(3), pages 763-789, August.
    14. Avci, Mualla Gonca & Selim, Hasan, 2018. "A multi-objective simulation-based optimization approach for inventory replenishment problem with premium freights in convergent supply chains," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 153-165.
    15. Ivanov, Dmitry & Pavlov, Alexander & Sokolov, Boris, 2014. "Optimal distribution (re)planning in a centralized multi-stage supply network under conditions of the ripple effect and structure dynamics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 237(2), pages 758-770.
    16. Verrijdt, J. H. C. M. & de Kok, A. G., 1996. "Distribution planning for a divergent depotless two-echelon network under service constraints," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 89(2), pages 341-354, March.
    17. Ye, Taofeng & Sun, Hao, 2016. "Price-setting newsvendor with strategic consumers," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 103-110.
    18. Zhang, Dali & Xu, Huifu & Wu, Yue, 2009. "Single and multi-period optimal inventory control models with risk-averse constraints," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 199(2), pages 420-434, December.
    19. Chung, Chia-Shin & Flynn, James & Kuik, Roelof & Staliński, Piotr, 2013. "A single-period inventory placement problem for a supply system with the satisficing objective," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 224(3), pages 520-529.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bo Dai & Fenfen Li & Yunchong Liu, 2022. "A Profit Allocation Mechanism for Customer-to-Manufacturer Platform in e-Commercial Business," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    2. Chen, Linlin & Han, Shuihua & Ye, Zhen & Xia, Senmao, 2023. "The optimisation of the location of front distribution centre: A spatio-temporal joint perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    3. Hu, Shu & Yu, Dennis Z. & Fu, Ke, 2023. "Online platforms’ warehouse capacity allocation strategies for multiple products," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    4. Dai, Bo & Chen, Haoxun & Li, Yuan & Zhang, Yidong & Wang, Xiaoqing & Deng, Yuming, 2023. "An alternating direction method of multipliers for optimizing (s, S) policies in a distribution system with joint replenishment volume constraints," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Jiu, Song & Wang, Dan & Ma, Zujun, 2024. "Benders decomposition for robust distribution network design and operations in online retailing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 315(3), pages 1069-1082.
    6. Berling, Peter & Johansson, Lina & Marklund, Johan, 2023. "Controlling inventories in omni/multi-channel distribution systems with variable customer order-sizes," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mofidi, Seyed Shahab & Pazour, Jennifer A. & Roy, Debjit, 2018. "Proactive vs. reactive order-fulfillment resource allocation for sea-based logistics," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 66-84.
    2. Bo Dai & Fenfen Li, 2021. "Joint Inventory Replenishment Planning of an E-Commerce Distribution System with Distribution Centers at Producers’ Locations," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-14, July.
    3. Xiao, Jianhua & Ma, Siyuan & Wang, Shuyi & Huang, George Q., 2024. "Meta-inventory management decisions: A theoretical model," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    4. Milena Bieniek, 2021. "Bartering: Price-Setting Newsvendor Problem with Barter Exchange," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    5. Jammernegg, Werner & Kischka, Peter, 2013. "Risk preferences of a newsvendor with service and loss constraints," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(2), pages 410-415.
    6. Mehran Ullah & Irfanullah Khan & Biswajit Sarkar, 2019. "Dynamic Pricing in a Multi-Period Newsvendor Under Stochastic Price-Dependent Demand," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-15, June.
    7. Weiwei Zhang & Zhongfei Li & Ke Fu & Fan Wang, 2017. "Effect of the Return Policy in a Continuous-Time Newsvendor Problem," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 34(06), pages 1-28, December.
    8. Dai, Bo & Chen, Haoxun & Li, Yuan & Zhang, Yidong & Wang, Xiaoqing & Deng, Yuming, 2023. "An alternating direction method of multipliers for optimizing (s, S) policies in a distribution system with joint replenishment volume constraints," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    9. Hua, Guowei & Zhang, Yi & Cheng, T.C.E. & Wang, Shouyang & Zhang, Juliang, 2020. "The newsvendor problem with barter exchange," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    10. de Kok, Ton & Grob, Christopher & Laumanns, Marco & Minner, Stefan & Rambau, Jörg & Schade, Konrad, 2018. "A typology and literature review on stochastic multi-echelon inventory models," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 269(3), pages 955-983.
    11. Moon, Ilkyeong & Feng, Xuehao, 2017. "Supply chain coordination with a single supplier and multiple retailers considering customer arrival times and route selection," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 78-97.
    12. Serrano, Breno & Minner, Stefan & Schiffer, Maximilian & Vidal, Thibaut, 2024. "Bilevel optimization for feature selection in the data-driven newsvendor problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 315(2), pages 703-714.
    13. Herweg, Fabian, 2013. "The expectation-based loss-averse newsvendor," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 120(3), pages 429-432.
    14. Changkyu Park, 2017. "A Partial Backordering Inventory Model with a Drop-Shipping Option Under Purchase Dependence," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 34(04), pages 1-20, August.
    15. Gu, Wei & Liu, Yajin & Song, Yanan & Shang, Jennifer & Cheng, T.C.E., 2024. "The impact of retailer regret in two-stage supply chains: Various structures and buyer power," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 319(2), pages 587-599.
    16. Khanra, Avijit & Soman, Chetan & Bandyopadhyay, Tathagata, 2014. "Sensitivity analysis of the newsvendor model," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 239(2), pages 403-412.
    17. Millstein, Mitchell A. & Bilir, Canser & Campbell, James F., 2022. "The effect of optimizing warehouse locations on omnichannel designs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 301(2), pages 576-590.
    18. Mohammad Heydari & Kin Keung Lai & Xiaohu Zhou, 2020. "Creating Sustainable Order Fulfillment Processes through Managing the Risk: Evidence from the Disposable Products Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-32, April.
    19. Rui Wang & Xiao Yan & Chuanjin Zhu, 2023. "Solving a Distribution-Free Multi-Period Newsvendor Problem With Advance Purchase Discount via an Online Ordering Solution," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    20. Sillanpää, Ville & Liesiö, Juuso & Käki, Anssi, 2021. "Procurement decisions over multiple periods under piecewise-linear shortage costs and fixed capacity commitments," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jomega:v:102:y:2021:i:c:s0305048320307106. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/375/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.