Location Analysis and Production Network Optimization

ReVelle (2001, p. 459) defines location analysis as the development of formulations and algorithms/methodologies to site facilities of diverse kinds in a spatial or geographic environment . In the following, the facilities to be located are further specified to possess point characteristics excluding models dealing with the location of area objects. The latter are employed to support facility layout and hence are not relevant in the context of this work (cf. Domschke and Krispin (1997) or Francis et al. (1992) for further references on facility layout models). 

23 Covering problems are a special case of the UFLP where the objective is to identify the minimum number of facilities required to cover demand with a maximum cost/time/distance constraint. 

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