A Fix and Optimize Approach for the Integrated Fleet Sizing and Delivery Pattern Planning Problem

Abstract

This research paper presents a planning concept aimed at defining repetitive delivery patterns for supplying grocery retailer stores from a distribution centre. The utilization of repetitive delivery patterns offers significant benefits in terms of workforce scheduling for shelf replenishment, establishment of cyclic transportation routes, and management of warehouse capacities. By employing this approach, all logistical subsystems of a retail chain, including warehousing, transportation, and in-store logistics, are effectively scheduled together. Our proposal introduces a novel model that minimizes total costs across all interconnected subsystems of a retail distribution chain. We also develop a fix and optimize heuristic that involves dividing the main problem into subproblems which are easily solved. The performance of the proposed solution technique is tested on a randomly generated dataset and its efficiency is proved. © 2023 Computers and Industrial Engineering. All rights reserved.