This paper studies optimal spatial layout of transshipment facilities and the corresponding service regions on an infinite homogeneous plane R2 that minimize the total cost for facility set-up, outbound delivery and inbound replenishment transportation.
They also look at the costs of process capabilities: inbound and outbound transportation rates, variable handling costs, fixed costs, and facility capacity adjusted for demand prompted elsewhere.
This means coordinating the entire supply chain effectively in order to minimize costs and simultaneously optimize facilities location, the allocation of customer demand to production/distribution centers, the inbound and outbound transportation activities, the product flows between production and/or warehousing facilities, the reverse logistics activities, etc.
I can only imagine the level of visibility that Santa requires to orchestrate purchase orders, shipments, in transit inbound inventory of raw materials and components, and the optimization of the transportation network to get all his supplies to the North Pole on time.
A mixed integer linear programming model is presented for this problem to minimize transportation cost and early/tardy deliveries with scheduling of inbound and outbound vehicles to increase customer satisfaction.
TRANSPORTATION Metro-North will operate on a holiday schedule with extra morning inbound service for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and extra late morning and early afternoon outbound service.
TRANSPORTATION Metro-North trains will operate on a Saturday schedule with extra trains operating inbound during the morning and outbound in the late afternoon.
The events of Sept. 11 have spread the pain to the rest of the country, with airlines and other transportation companies suffering heavy losses and Egyptian travel agencies and tour packagers reporting inbound trade down by at least half compared with a year ago.
