Title: An efficiency-based approach to biofuel facility location-routing network design

Authors: Jae-Dong Hong; Judith L. Mwakalonge

Addresses: Industrial Engineering, South Carolina State University, 300 College Street NE, Orangeburg, SC 29117, USA ' Transportation Program, South Carolina State University, 300 College Street NE, Orangeburg, SC 29117, USA

Abstract: In this study, an integrated procedure of applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) method through a goal programming (GP) formulation is proposed for a biofuel facility location-routing network (BFLRN) design problem under the risk of facility disruptions. The BFLRN consists of four echelons; harvest sites, storage facilities, biorefineries and blending facilities with four goals on the location-routing of these four echelons. The GP approach to accommodate these four goals is applied. Solving the GP model for various values of the weight assigned to each goal will generate various BFLRN schemes. Considering each scheme as a decision-making unit (DMU), DEA is applied to find the most efficient one among efficient schemes. A case study using the biomass feedstocks data for South Carolina is conducted to evaluate the integrated procedure, which results in identifying efficient and robust BFLRN schemes. It would attract potential investors who are interested in the biofuel/bioenergy industry.

Keywords: goal programming; data envelopment analysis; biofuel facility location-routing network; facility disruptions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2022.124157

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2022 Vol.42 No.2, pp.273 - 295

Received: 31 Oct 2019
Accepted: 07 Jan 2020
Published online: 15 Jul 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article