Optimal outbound dispatch policies: Modeling inventory and cargo capacity

In this paper, we present an optimization model for coordinating inventory and transportation decisions at an outbound distribution warehouse that serves a group of customers located in a given market area. For the practical problems which motivated this paper, the warehouse is operated by a third party logistics provider. However, the models developed here may be applicable in a more general context where outbound distribution is managed by another supply chain member, e.g., a manufacturer. We consider the case where the aggregate demand of the market area is constant and known per period (e.g., per day). Under an immediate delivery policy, an outbound shipment is released each time a demand is realized (e.g., on a daily basis). On the other hand, if these shipments are consolidated over time, then larger (hence more economical) outbound freight quantities can be dispatched. In this case, the physical inventory requirements at the third party warehouse (TPW) are determined by the consolidated freight quantities. Thus, stock replenishment and outbound shipment release policies should be coordinated. By optimizing inventory and freight consolidation decisions simultaneously, we compute the parameters of an integrated inventory/outbound transportation policy. These parameters determine: (i) how often to dispatch a truck so that transportation scale economies are realized and timely delivery requirements are met, and (ii) how often, and in what quantities, the stock should be replenished at the TPW. We prove that the optimal shipment release timing policy is nonstationary, and we present algorithms for computing the policy parameters for both the uncapacitated and finite cargo capacity problems. The model presented in this study is considerably different from the existing inventory/transportation models in the literature. The classical inventory literature assumes that demands should be satisfied as they arrive so that outbound shipment costs are sunk costs, or else these costs are covered by the customer. Hence, the classical literature does not model outbound transportation costs. However, if a freight consolidation policy is in place then the outbound transportation costs can no longer be ignored in optimization. Relying on this observation, this paper models outbound transportation costs, freight consolidation decisions, and cargo capacity constraints explicitly. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 49: 531–556, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/nav.10030     

新时期大学生社会实践问题与对策研究

社会实践作为大学生成长成才的重要途径，已得到各高校的普遍重视，但随着我国社会主义市场经济的进一步发展，大学生社会实践活动也出现了一些新的问题，本文论述了当前大学生社会实践存在的主要问题，并针对性的提出了提高认识、争取社会支持、加强基地建设、创新实践内容、建立健全考核评价体系等对策。     

工科数学课程创新存在的问题与对策

国内工科数学课程创新能力与机制缺乏，对数学课程体系的创新认识不足，内容过于重视传统数学，数学教师的专业创新能力有待提高等一系列问题严重影响工科院校基础数学课程的创新。应对课程体系、课程内容、课程实施、课程评价进行创新，并提出了相应的对策。     

对贫困大学生心理健康教育的思考

贫困大学生不仅经济上困难,而且还存在许多心理问题。研究高校贫困大学生的心理状况,并对他们进行心理健康教育,可为高校教育工作的针对性和有效性提供帮助。     

A computation procedure for the exact solution of location-allocation problems with rectangular distances

A method is presented to locate and allocate p new facilities in relation to n existing facilities. Each of the n existing facilities has a requirement flow which must be supplied by the new facilities. Rectangular distances are assumed to exist between all facilities. The algorithm proceeds in two stages. In the first stage a set of all possible optimal new facility locations is determined by a set reduction algorithm. The resultant problem is shown to be equivalent to finding the p-median of a weighted connected graph. In the second stage the optimal locations and allocations are obtained by using a technique for solving the p-median problem.     

严寒地区消防给水存在的问题及对策

分析了我国北方寒冷地区城市市政消防给水和室外消火栓系统在实际应用中出现的问题,并结合规范与寒冷地区实际情况和历年的经验,提出了解决办法。     

当前边防部队基层工作中的主要问题及对策

在新的形势下,边防部队基层工作必然会出现新的问题、出现新的变化。要加强边防部队建设,履行好边防部队的使命,必须认真研究新形势下的新问题,采取恰当的对策,切实做好边防部队的基层工作。     

武警学院双语教学面临的问题及对策

结合武警学院的教育特点,积极开展双语教学的理论研究,科学论证和正确选用双语课程和教材,努力提高教员的教学水平和学员的外语应用能力,提高双语教学质量,充分发挥双语教学在武警学院现代化教学工作中的作用。     

消防部队军人社会化存在的问题及原因分析

根据调查和工作体会 ,认为消防部队军人社会化过程主要存在包括角色过渡不当、角色冲突外显、角色领悟偏差、角色期望差距和角色扮演混同等问题 ,其原因应从社会环境、部队内部和个人因素几方面查找     

红河州边境地区治安问题探析

云南省红河州中越边境地区治安问题十分突出,直接影响着边境经济社会稳定。解决这一问题需要创新理念,建立高效规范的边境管理体系;加强警务合作,开展专项整治,保持高压态势打击边境地区各类违法犯罪活动;加强信息交流,发挥情报侦查在管控边境上的主导作用;加强边境联合执法,建立健全科学管控联动机制;加大经费投入,坚持科技强警思想,全面加强边防派出所执法队伍建设。