Title: A blood distribution problem with new transportation options - an application for the Turkish Red Crescent

Authors: Atıl Kurt; Ferda Can Çetinkaya; Meral Azizoğlu

Addresses: Department Industrial Engineering and Business Information Systems, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Çankaya University, 06790, Ankara, Turkey ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract: This paper considers the blood distribution problem in the Central Anatolian Regional Blood Centre of the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and proposes several demand satisfaction options considering the irradiation centres, urgent demands, and product availability. Our aim is to maximise the total weighted blood demand satisfaction. To address the problem, we develop a mixed integer linear programming model and propose a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA). The results of our experiments have revealed that the mathematical model cannot handle even small sized problem instances in reasonable times; however, the hybrid genetic algorithm is capable of handling complex daily operations of the Turkish Red Crescent. [Received: 19 September 2018; Revised: 3 December 2018; Accepted: 3 December 2018]

Keywords: blood distribution system; transportation options; vehicle routing; mixed integer linear programming model; genetic algorithm.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIE.2019.100002

European Journal of Industrial Engineering, 2019 Vol.13 No.3, pp.332 - 367

Published online: 03 Jun 2019 *

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