Multilocation Distribution Systems.
Abstract
A 'Multilocation Distribution System' is a system for the distribution of goods that may be held at more than one location in the system. This thesis is concerned with the shipping and stocking decisions made in such a system at the short term planning level, involving setting of stock targets and service levels, positioning of stock, and making cost versus service level tradeoffs when the demands to be met are stochastic. The problem and its important characteristics are described and a framework for identifying problems is developed. The literature, both methodological and applied, is reviewed and discussed critically. The major approaches and their merits and shortcomings are described, and it is asserted that there is a close connection between the stochastic distribution problem and the literature in stochastic programming. This assertion is borne out by examining a simple but general type of distribution problem using programming techniques and showing that it yields convincingly to the treatment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA015685
Entities
People
- Uday S. Karmarkar
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology