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Midterm Scheduling and Assignment of Inbound and Outbound Doors in a Cross Dock Network

Kaboudvand, Sara | 2015

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 47951 (01)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Indusrial Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Shavandi, Hassan
  7. Abstract:
  8. Cross docking is a novel docking method which importance in supply chain management has been underlined in recent decades. Two main operations of regular docking centers, including storage and picking up are eliminated in cross docking facilities in order to decrease inventory holding costs, shorten lead times and at the same time increase service level. Although inbound and outbound flow at each cross dock are determined by the flow of shipments through the network, overwhelming majority of papers in this field have addressed each of local and network-wide cross docking problems mutually in isolation. That being so, the problem dealt with in this research, is to how determining the flow of shipments across the network, alongside with assignment of inbound and outbound doors at each cross dock, aiming for synchronous minimization of the overall costs. To solve the problem, a mixed integer mathematical model is first suggested and its optimal solution capability for 10 sample problems is tested against the resultant output of two distinct local and global mathematical models which have been previously addressed in literature. As the problem is NP-hard in strong sense, the mathematical model fails to be capable of dealing with realistic case sizes. As a result, a three phase heuristic algorithm is developed for solving large scale sample problems. The heuristic algorithm efficiency regarding running time and objective function quality against the exact algorithm is illustrated for 50 sample problems. Moreover, sensitivity analysis has been conducted for examining the effect of different cost parameters variation upon objective function. Finally some potential future researches are introduced for emphasizing the need for more attention toward hybrid problems in this circle
  9. Keywords:
  10. Supply Chain ; Cross Docking ; Assignment Algorithm ; Heuristic Algorithm ; Network-wide Transshipment ; Synchronized Optimization

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