Serial supply chains with economies of scale: Bounds and approximations
成果类型：
Article
署名作者：
Shang, Kevin H.; Song, Jing-Sheng
署名单位：
Duke University
刊物名称：
OPERATIONS RESEARCH
ISSN/ISSBN：
0030-364X
DOI：
10.1287/opre.1070.0406
发表日期：
2007
页码：
843-853
关键词：
摘要：
We consider two models of stochastic serial inventory systems with economies of scale for which the forms of optimal policies are known. In the first model, each stage has a fixed-order quantity, while in the second model, there is a 141 fixed-order cost for external supplies. For each model, we show that the optimal policy parameters can be bounded and approximated by a series of independent, single-stage optimal policy parameters. We further construct closed-form bounds and approximations for the single-stage solutions and apply them to the serial systems. These results provide simple and effective solutions that will help to facilitate implementations in practice. They also allow us to see the connections between the serial and single-stage systems and sharpen our intuition on optimal policy parameters and system behavior.