Title: Optimisation of e-commerce logistics distribution system: problem modelling and exact resolution

Authors: Mariem Masmoudi; Mounir Benaissa; Habib Chabchoub

Addresses: LOGIQ Research Unit, Higher Institute of Industrial Management of Sfax, Cité El Ons Km 11 Road Tunis Technopole BP 1164 – 3021, Sfax, Tunisia ' OASIS Laboratory, National Engineering School of Tunis, BP 37, Le belvédère – 1002, Tunis, Tunisia ' MODEOR Laboratory, Institute of Business Studies of Sfax, Road Sidi Mansour Km 10 BP 43 – 3061, Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract: In order to provide a decision support tool for home deliveries planning to e-commerce websites, four variants of the VRP have been combined into a single called load specific of multiple products types within heterogeneous fixed fleet vehicle routing and scheduling problem with time windows (LS-MPT-HFFVRSPTW). This problem includes constraints that can be observed in the electronic commerce environment. This paper to consider multiple types of products and vehicles, transport conditions and time windows. The main new idea is to assure compatibility between product type and vehicle type in order to satisfy required transport conditions. Mathematically this problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear programme. The formulation has been validated by tests on instances that bring the basic model of HVRPTW. New instances were built and optimal solutions have been provided by the CPLEX solver. In the future, this base of optimal solutions can be used for comparison with other approximate solutions.

Keywords: mathematical modelling; VRP; multiple products types; transport conditions; compatibility; e-commerce; electronic commerce; logistics distribution; exact resolution; CPLEX; decision support tools; heterogeneous fixed fleets; vehicle routing problem; home deliveries; e-business; electronic business; fleet management; vehicle scheduling; time windows; compatibility; required transport conditions; MILP; mixed integer linear programming; optimal solutions; approximate solutions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPSCM.2014.065275

International Journal of Business Performance and Supply Chain Modelling, 2014 Vol.6 No.3/4, pp.358 - 375

Received: 17 Jul 2013
Accepted: 04 Oct 2013

Published online: 31 Oct 2014 *

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