Title: Three level supply chain model with variable demand rate under partial trade credit policy

Authors: Narayan Singh; Bindu Vaish; S.R. Singh

Addresses: Department of Mathematics, D.N. College, C.C.S. University, Meerut (U.P), 250001, India ' Department of Mathematics, D.N. College, C.C.S. University, Meerut (U.P), 250001, India ' Department of Mathematics, D.N. College, C.C.S. University, Meerut (U.P), 250001, India

Abstract: In this study, we generalise a partial trade credit policy in a three echelon supply chain system involving a single manufacturer, a single distributor and a single retailer. Here the manufacturer provides a delay period to the distributor and the distributer offers less trade credit period to the retailers, and the retailer also offers the partial trade credit to his customers. Demand and production rate are considered time dependent. This article develops an integrated inventory model to determine the minimum system cost, the optimal cycle time, optimal order quantity and optimal payment time. Suitably selected numerical examples highlight the obtained results. Sensitivity analysis of the optimal solution with respect to major parameters of the system has been carried out and the implications are discussed.

Keywords: time dependent demand; variable production rate; three echelon supply chains; partial trade credit; supply chain management; SCM; inventory modelling; system cost; cycle time; order quantity; payment time.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2015.070254

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2015 Vol.21 No.4, pp.479 - 503

Received: 20 Jan 2014
Accepted: 01 May 2014
Published online: 01 Jul 2015 *

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