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A Decision Support Model for Cost-Effective Choice of Temperature-Controlled Transport of Fresh Food

Author

Listed:
  • Lohithaksha M. Maiyar

    (Department of Entrepreneurship and Management, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi 502284, India)

  • Ramakrishnan Ramanathan

    (Essex Business School, University of Essex–Southend Campus, Elmer Approach, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1LW, UK)

  • Indira Roy

    (Department of Entrepreneurship and Management, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi 502284, India)

  • Usha Ramanathan

    (Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK)

Abstract

The application of a plethora of wireless technologies to support real-time food quality monitoring during transportation has significantly improved the performance of fresh food delivery systems. However, deployment of these technologies increases the capital and operational costs of food delivery and, hence, not all food delivery operations need to employ them. This paper looks at the trade-off of the costs involved in utilizing these technologies with the nature of food delivered, the length of transportation, and the perceived costs of food wasted using a linear programming model. The problem is formulated over a bi-echelon network with the possibility of transporting the fresh produce through dry vans, vans with temperature control but without monitoring capability, and vans with temperature control and monitoring capability. Results indicate that under situations of infinite vehicle resource availability, the optimal choice of the van type is independent of the demand levels; however, the optimal choice changes for different travel distances and the value of penalty costs (of allowing food to go waste). For example, technologies that maintain and monitor the temperature of storage conditions will be useful for food items that quickly become waste, especially when transported over longer distances and when the penalty costs are higher.

Suggested Citation

  • Lohithaksha M. Maiyar & Ramakrishnan Ramanathan & Indira Roy & Usha Ramanathan, 2023. "A Decision Support Model for Cost-Effective Choice of Temperature-Controlled Transport of Fresh Food," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:8:p:6821-:d:1126522
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zanoni, Simone & Zavanella, Lucio, 2012. "Chilled or frozen? Decision strategies for sustainable food supply chains," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(2), pages 731-736.
    2. Ramakrishnan Ramanathan & Yanqing Duan & Tahmina Ajmal & Katarzyna Pelc & James Gillespie & Sahar Ahmadzadeh & Joan Condell & Imke Hermens & Usha Ramanathan, 2023. "Motivations and Challenges for Food Companies in Using IoT Sensors for Reducing Food Waste: Some Insights and a Road Map for the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Usha Ramanathan & Ramakrishnan Ramanathan & Abiodun Adefisan & Tamíris Da Costa & Xavier Cama-Moncunill & Gautam Samriya, 2022. "Adapting Digital Technologies to Reduce Food Waste and Improve Operational Efficiency of a Frozen Food Company—The Case of Yumchop Foods in the UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    4. James Gillespie & Tamíris Pacheco da Costa & Xavier Cama-Moncunill & Trevor Cadden & Joan Condell & Tom Cowderoy & Elaine Ramsey & Fionnuala Murphy & Marco Kull & Robert Gallagher & Ramakrishnan Raman, 2023. "Real-Time Anomaly Detection in Cold Chain Transportation Using IoT Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-24, January.
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