IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/oropre/v65y2017i5p1414-1428.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Closed-Form Approximations for Optimal ( r , q ) and ( S , T ) Policies in a Parallel Processing Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Marcus Ang

    (Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University, 178899, Singapore)

  • Karl Sigman

    (Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027)

  • Jing-Sheng Song

    (Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708)

  • Hanqin Zhang

    (NUS Business School, National University of Singapore, 119245, Singapore)

Abstract

We consider a single-item continuous-review ( r , q ) inventory system with a renewal demand process and independent, identically distributed stochastic lead times. Using a stationary marked-point process technique and a heavy-traffic limit, we prove a previous conjecture that inventory position and inventory on-order are asymptotically independent. We also establish closed-form expressions for the optimal policy parameters and system cost in heavy-traffic limit, the first of their kind, to our knowledge. These expressions sharpen our understanding of the key determinants of the optimal policy and their quantitative and qualitative impacts. For example, the results demonstrate that the well-known square-root relationship between the optimal order quantity and demand rate under a sequential processing environment is replaced by the cube root under a stochastic parallel processing environment. We further extend the study to periodic-review ( S , T ) systems with constant lead times.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus Ang & Karl Sigman & Jing-Sheng Song & Hanqin Zhang, 2017. "Closed-Form Approximations for Optimal ( r , q ) and ( S , T ) Policies in a Parallel Processing Environment," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 65(5), pages 1414-1428, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:65:y:2017:i:5:p:1414-1428
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.2017.1623
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2017.1623
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/opre.2017.1623?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jing-Sheng Song & Paul H. Zipkin, 1996. "The Joint Effect of Leadtime Variance and Lot Size in a Parallel Processing Environment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(9), pages 1352-1363, September.
    2. H. P. Galliher & Philip M. Morse & M. Simond, 1959. "Dynamics of Two Classes of Continuous-Review Inventory Systems," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 7(3), pages 362-384, June.
    3. Awi Federgruen & Min Wang, 2013. "Monotonicity properties of a class of stochastic inventory systems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 208(1), pages 155-186, September.
    4. Guillermo Gallego, 1998. "New Bounds and Heuristics for (Q, r) Policies," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(2), pages 219-233, February.
    5. Ang, Marcus & Song, Jing-Sheng & Wang, Mingzheng & Zhang, Hanqin, 2013. "On properties of discrete (r, q) and (s, T) inventory systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 229(1), pages 95-105.
    6. Lawrence W. Robinson & James R. Bradley, 2008. "Note--Further Improvements on Base-Stock Approximations for Independent Stochastic Lead Times with Order Crossover," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 10(2), pages 325-327, December.
    7. Jing-Sheng Song & Hanqin Zhang & Yumei Hou & Mingzheng Wang, 2010. "The Effect of Lead Time and Demand Uncertainties in ( r, q ) Inventory Systems," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(1), pages 68-80, February.
    8. Alp Muharremoglu & Nan Yang, 2010. "Inventory Management with an Exogenous Supply Process," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(1), pages 111-129, February.
    9. Jing-Sheng Song, 2000. "A Note on Assemble-to-Order Systems with Batch Ordering," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(5), pages 739-743, May.
    10. Yu-Sheng Zheng, 1992. "On Properties of Stochastic Inventory Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 38(1), pages 87-103, January.
    11. Ward Whitt, 1992. "Understanding the Efficiency of Multi-Server Service Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 38(5), pages 708-723, May.
    12. Paul Zipkin, 1986. "Stochastic leadtimes in continuous‐time inventory models," Naval Research Logistics Quarterly, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(4), pages 763-774, November.
    13. Awi Federgruen & Yu-Sheng Zheng, 1992. "An Efficient Algorithm for Computing an Optimal (r, Q) Policy in Continuous Review Stochastic Inventory Systems," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 40(4), pages 808-813, August.
    14. James R. Bradley & Lawrence W. Robinson, 2005. "Improved Base-Stock Approximations for Independent Stochastic Lead Times with Order Crossover," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 7(4), pages 319-329, November.
    15. David Zalkind, 1978. "Order-Level Inventory Systems with Independent Stochastic Leadtimes," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(13), pages 1384-1392, September.
    16. Uday S. Rao, 2003. "Properties of the Periodic Review (R, T) Inventory Control Policy for Stationary, Stochastic Demand," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 5(1), pages 37-53, February.
    17. David E. Platt & Lawrence W. Robinson & Robert B. Freund, 1997. "Tractable (Q, R) Heuristic Models for Constrained Service Levels," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(7), pages 951-965, July.
    18. Kumar Muthuraman & Sridhar Seshadri & Qi Wu, 2015. "Inventory Management with Stochastic Lead Times," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 40(2), pages 302-327, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tamer Boyacı & Guillermo Gallego, 2002. "Managing waiting times of backordered demands in single‐stage (Q, r) inventory systems," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 49(6), pages 557-573, September.
    2. Awi Federgruen & Min Wang, 2013. "Monotonicity properties of a class of stochastic inventory systems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 208(1), pages 155-186, September.
    3. Thomas Wensing & Heinrich Kuhn, 2015. "Analysis of production and inventory systems when orders may cross over," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 231(1), pages 265-281, August.
    4. Vipul Agrawal & Sridhar Seshadri, 2000. "Distribution free bounds for service constrained (Q, r) inventory systems," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(8), pages 635-656, December.
    5. Chatfield, Dean C. & Pritchard, Alan M., 2018. "Crossover aware base stock decisions for service-driven systems," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 312-330.
    6. Ben-Ammar, Oussama & Bettayeb, Belgacem & Dolgui, Alexandre, 2019. "Optimization of multi-period supply planning under stochastic lead times and a dynamic demand," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 106-117.
    7. Tamjidzad, Shahrzad & Mirmohammadi, S. Hamid, 2015. "An optimal (r, Q) policy in a stochastic inventory system with all-units quantity discount and limited sharable resource," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 247(1), pages 93-100.
    8. Hayya, Jack C. & Bagchi, Uttarayan & Kim, Jeon G. & Sun, Daewon, 2008. "On static stochastic order crossover," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(1), pages 404-413, July.
    9. Alp Muharremoglu & Nan Yang, 2010. "Inventory Management with an Exogenous Supply Process," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(1), pages 111-129, February.
    10. Disney, Stephen M. & Maltz, Arnold & Wang, Xun & Warburton, Roger D.H., 2016. "Inventory management for stochastic lead times with order crossovers," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 248(2), pages 473-486.
    11. Li, Xiaoming & Sridharan, V., 2008. "Characterizing order processes of using (R,nQ) inventory policies in supply chains," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 1096-1104, December.
    12. Lagodimos, A.G. & Skouri, K. & Christou, I.T. & Chountalas, P.T., 2018. "The discrete-time EOQ model: Solution and implications," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 266(1), pages 112-121.
    13. Lee, Jun-Yeon & Schwarz, Leroy B., 2007. "Leadtime reduction in a (Q,r) inventory system: An agency perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(1), pages 204-212, January.
    14. Jing-Sheng Song & Hanqin Zhang & Yumei Hou & Mingzheng Wang, 2010. "The Effect of Lead Time and Demand Uncertainties in ( r, q ) Inventory Systems," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(1), pages 68-80, February.
    15. Ang, Marcus & Song, Jing-Sheng & Wang, Mingzheng & Zhang, Hanqin, 2013. "On properties of discrete (r, q) and (s, T) inventory systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 229(1), pages 95-105.
    16. Hayya, Jack C. & Harrison, Terry P. & He, X. James, 2011. "The impact of stochastic lead time reduction on inventory cost under order crossover," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 211(2), pages 274-281, June.
    17. Halkos, George & Kevork, Ilias & Tziourtzioumis, Chris, 2014. "Optimal inventory policies with an exact cost function under large demand uncertainty," MPRA Paper 60545, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Achin Srivastav & Sunil Agrawal, 2020. "On a single item single stage mixture inventory models with independent stochastic lead times," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 2189-2227, December.
    19. Amy Hing‐Ling Lau & Hon‐Shiang Lau & David F. Pyke, 2002. "Degeneracy in inventory models," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 49(7), pages 686-705, October.
    20. Axsater, Sven, 2006. "A simple procedure for determining order quantities under a fill rate constraint and normally distributed lead-time demand," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 174(1), pages 480-491, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:65:y:2017:i:5:p:1414-1428. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.