Title: Cross-docking versus traditional warehouse in a chain store: a deductive study based on agent-based simulation

Authors: Reza Zamani Basir; Mohsen Akbarpour Shirazi

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to conduct a deductive study to choose the best distribution strategy for a chain store. A cross-docking system was proposed for a chain store, which used a traditional warehouse, to enhance the supply chain performance and reduce distribution costs. The simulation is an approach to study the feasibility of cross-docking before its actual implementation. Among various simulation methods, the agent-based simulation is used in this paper. By applying agent-based simulation method and some performance metrics, the cost reduction and performance improvement are more common in the cross-docking system in comparison with a traditional warehouse. The present paper contributed to utilising an agent-based simulation approach in cross-docking that was less used than classical approaches in the literature. In addition, the agent-based simulation of cross-docking in the literature was mainly done for cross-docking optimisation and not for managerial level decisions which have been done in this research.

Keywords: agent-based simulation; supply chain; distribution; cross-docking; retailer.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPSCM.2021.120743

International Journal of Business Performance and Supply Chain Modelling, 2021 Vol.12 No.4, pp.396 - 413

Accepted: 20 Apr 2021
Published online: 07 Feb 2022 *

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