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Optimal Control of Serial Inventory Systems with Fixed Replenishment Intervals

Author

Listed:
  • Geert-Jan van Houtum

    (Department of Technology Management, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

  • Alan Scheller-Wolf

    (Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-3890)

  • Jinxin Yi

    (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina 27513)

Abstract

We consider a single-item, periodic-review, serial inventory/production system, with linear inventory-holding and penalty costs. To facilitate shipment consolidation and capacity planning, we assume that the system has implemented fixed replenishment intervals; each stage is allowed to order only at given equidistant times. Further, for each stage except the most downstream one, the replenishment interval is assumed to be an integer multiple of the replenishment interval of the next downstream stage. This reflects the fact that the further upstream in a supply chain, the higher setup times and costs tend to be, and thus larger batches are desired. Our model with fixed replenishment intervals is a direct generalization of the serial model of Clark and Scarf (1960). For this generalized model, we prove the optimality of base-stock policies, we derive newsboy equations for the optimal base-stock levels, and we describe an efficient exact solution procedure for the case with mixed Erlang demands. Finally, we present extensions to assembly systems and to systems with a modified fill-rate constraint instead of backorder costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Geert-Jan van Houtum & Alan Scheller-Wolf & Jinxin Yi, 2007. "Optimal Control of Serial Inventory Systems with Fixed Replenishment Intervals," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 55(4), pages 674-687, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:55:y:2007:i:4:p:674-687
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.1060.0376
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dmitry Ivanov & Boris Sokolov & Joachim Kaeschel, 2011. "Integrated supply chain planning based on a combined application of operations research and optimal control," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 19(3), pages 299-317, September.
    3. Kevin H. Shang & Sean X. Zhou, 2010. "Optimal and Heuristic Echelon ( r, nQ, T ) Policies in Serial Inventory Systems with Fixed Costs," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(2), pages 414-427, April.
    4. Qinan Wang & Sven Axsäter, 2013. "Fixed‐interval joint‐replenishment policies for distribution systems with multiple retailers and stochastic demand," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 60(8), pages 637-651, December.
    5. Woonghee Tim Huh & Ganesh Janakiraman, 2012. "Technical Note---On Optimal Policies for Inventory Systems with Batch Ordering," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 60(4), pages 797-802, August.
    6. Agrawal, Narendra & Smith, Stephen A., 2019. "Optimal inventory management using retail prepacks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 274(2), pages 531-544.
    7. Xiuli Chao & Sean X. Zhou, 2009. "Optimal Policy for a Multiechelon Inventory System with Batch Ordering and Fixed Replenishment Intervals," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 57(2), pages 377-390, April.
    8. Alexandar Angelus, 2011. "A Multiechelon Inventory Problem with Secondary Market Sales," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 57(12), pages 2145-2162, December.
    9. Karaarslan, Gönül A. & Atan, Zümbül & de Kok, Ton & Kiesmüller, Gudrun P., 2018. "Optimal and heuristic policies for assemble-to-order systems with different review periods," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 271(1), pages 80-96.
    10. de Kok, Ton, 2018. "Inventory Management: Modeling Real-life Supply Chains and Empirical Validity," Foundations and Trends(R) in Technology, Information and Operations Management, now publishers, vol. 11(2), pages 343-437, April.
    11. Mustafa Doğru & A. Kok & G. Houtum, 2013. "Newsvendor characterizations for one-warehouse multi-retailer inventory systems with discrete demand under the balance assumption," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 21(3), pages 541-559, September.
    12. Kevin H. Shang & Sean X. Zhou & Geert-Jan van Houtum, 2010. "Improving Supply Chain Performance: Real-Time Demand Information and Flexible Deliveries," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 430-448, May.
    13. Ming Hu & Yi Yang, 2014. "Modified Echelon ( r, Q ) Policies with Guaranteed Performance Bounds for Stochastic Serial Inventory Systems," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 62(4), pages 812-828, August.
    14. Karaarslan, A.G. & Kiesmüller, G.P. & de Kok, A.G., 2013. "Analysis of an assemble-to-order system with different review periods," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(2), pages 335-341.
    15. Lagodimos, A.G. & Christou, I.T. & Skouri, K., 2012. "Computing globally optimal (s,S,T) inventory policies," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 660-671.

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