Distribution network design

Lakervi, E. and Holmes, E.J., Electricity Distribution Network Design, Peter Peregrinus, London. 

For a scientific discipline such a modular systems development - which is the mathematical basis of farther building of logistics and architecture of distributed networks design and engineering - it is a very important to define the components for a relevant mathematical model. It is well known that the most convenient way to manipulate and compose components is the usage of components with following characteristics of the component [1-3] ... 

Production network design by definition needs to include distribution decisions. For the purpose of this classification a model is considered to include distribution network design only if at least one distribution echelon (warehouses, distribution centers, etc.) is explicitly modeled. The term "distribution center" is not defined uniformly in literature (cf. Higginson and Bookbinder 2005). Here, distribution centers where a production step takes place are considered to be a production echelon whereas those performing picking or packaging operations are considered to be a distribution echelon. 

As discussed in Chapter 2.1.2, this work focuses on production network design. Consequently, the classification only lists models that include production network design decisions. For reviews and further references related to distribution network design the reader is referred to Tsiakis et al. (2001), Geoffrion and Powers (1995) or Aikens (1985). 

Ambrosino D, Scutella MG (2005) Distribution network design New problems and related models. European Journal of Operational Research 165 610-624... 

Jacob F (2005) Quantitative Optimierung dynamischer Produktionsnetz-werke. Dissertation, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt Jayaraman V (1998) Transportation, facility location and inventory issues in distribution network design. International Journal of Operations Production Management 18 471-494... 

Sherali, H.D. and Subramanian, S., 2001, Effective Relaxations and partitioning Schemes for Solving Water Distribution Network Design Problems to Global Optimality. Journal of Global Optimisation, 19,1-26. 

Discrete Model and Visualization Interface for Water Distribution Network Design... 

Cunha, M. Sousa, J. (1999). Water distribution network design optimization Simulated annealing approach. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 125 (4), 215-221. 

Designing a distribution network involves making a large number of decisions. Different researchers, such as Bachlaus et al. (2008), Portillo-Bollat (2008), and Solo (2009), among others, have already considered many of these aspects in the distribution network design process, mostly based on the number of warehouses and plants needed and their locations, production and inventory levels, and optimal routing plans. Supply chain optimization or distribution network optimization is the term used for most models that pretend to solve these decision-making problems. The research in supply chain optimization is very broad nowadays, but a small review on research related to this chapter is presented in this section. 

Wang, X., X. Sun, and F. Yang. (2005). A two-level distribution network design based on inventory optimization. Proceedings of the International Conference on Services Systems and Services Management, 1(1), 291-296. 

Changing the distribution network design affects the following supply chain costs (notice that these are four of the six supply chain drivers we discussed earlier) ... 

Based on the firm s industry and the answers to these two questions, one of six distinct distribution network designs may be used to move products from factory to customer. These designs are classified as follows ... 

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