Optimal Policy for a Multiechelon Inventory System with Batch Ordering and Fixed Replenishment Intervals
成果类型：
Article
署名作者：
Chao, Xiuli; Zhou, Sean X.
署名单位：
University of Michigan System; University of Michigan; Chinese University of Hong Kong
刊物名称：
OPERATIONS RESEARCH
ISSN/ISSBN：
0030-364X
DOI：
10.1287/opre.1080.0636
发表日期：
2009
页码：
377-390
关键词：
摘要：
In many production/distribution systems, materials flow in fixed lot sizes (e. g., in full truckloads or full containers) and under regular schedules (e. g., delivery every week). In this paper, we study a multiechelon serial system with batch ordering and fixed replenishment intervals. We derive the optimal inventory control policy, provide a distribution-function solution for its optimal control parameters, and present an efficient algorithm for computing those parameters. Further, we show that the optimal expected system cost is minimized when the ordering times for all stages are synchronized. In contrast to the known approach in the literature that develops a lower bound for the average cost of a given period for the classical serial system, we develop a lower bound for the average total cost over an appropriately defined cycle and then construct a policy that reaches the lower bound. We also discuss its extension to the nonlinear shortage cost case (i.e., the nonlinear cost case). This paper generalizes several recent results on the analysis of multiechelon systems.