Optimisation of multi-stage JIT production-pricing decision: centralised and decentralised models and algorithms

This research studies the optimal decision for product pricing, production lot sizing in a multi-stage serial just-in-time production system with kanban-controlled policy. A decentralised decision model and a centralised decision model of this problem are formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem. In order to solve the models, three algorithms are developed. The first one is an approximate procedure which solves the decentralised decision model; the second one is a proximate optimal procedure using two-phase search technique that solves the centralised decision model, and the third one is an approximate method using meta-heuristic technique which is used for both decentralised and centralised models. Numerical example shows that centralised decision can obtain higher economic benefit with lower cost and higher revenue and profit. Meanwhile, when demand is more price sensitive, centralised decision can achieve significant profit enhancement. Computational results attribute to different characteristics of the problem and solution superiority.