A routing and scheduling problem for cross-docking networks with perishable products, heterogeneous vehicles and split delivery

R. Tavakkoli-Moghaddam | S. Asian | M. Rajabzadeh | Seyed Meysam Mousavi | Shahabi-Shahmiri

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URL :   http://research.shahed.ac.ir/WSR/WebPages/Report/PaperView.aspx?PaperID=158798
Date :  2021/03/09
Publish in :    Computers & Industrial Engineering


Keywords :Multiple cross-docks, Scheduling, Routing, Split delivery, AUGMECON2-VIKOR, Perishable products

Abstract :

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Cross-docking is an effective logistics strategy that has long been employed in supply chains with perishable products, where short processing time of goods is required. In this paper, a new multi-objective mixed-integer programming (MIP) model is proposed for scheduling and routing of heterogeneous vehicles carrying perishable goods across multiple cross-docking systems. Inspired by the actual business operations of a large supermarket chain, multiple cross-docks with simultaneous split pick-up and delivery tasks are considered, each of which processing either general or perishable products. In addition, all pick-up/delivery (P/D) requests for perishable products have a deadline that must be met. The main objectives of the developed model are to reduce distribution costs, accelerate distribution processing time, and maximize the cross-docking network’s capacity utilization rate. To overcome the complexity of the formulated problem, a novel hybrid solution method, namely AUGMECON2-VIKOR is developed and used in the case-study. The results reveal that AUGMECON2-VIKOR outperforms AUGMECON2, particularly when a larger number of grid points are considered in the proposed solution algorithm.