Title: Developing bi-level equilibrium models for the global container transportation network from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders

Authors: Hokey Min, Zijian Guo

Addresses: James R. Good Chair in Global Supply Chain Strategy, Department of Management, BAA 3008C, College of Business Administration, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, USA. ' Port and Ocean Lab, Civil Engineering Department, Dalian University of Technology, Lingsui, Gangjingzi, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116023, PR China

Abstract: Given the importance of containerisation to creating successful global supply chain operations, this paper proposes an equilibrium model that can not only minimise the total container transportation cost for a shipper, but also maximise the total profit accrued from container transportation services offered by a carrier. The proposed model combines game theory with a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to promote a compromise between the conflicting interests of the carrier and the shipper, while optimally balancing the shipper|s desire to contain cost against the carrier|s desire to increase profit. To verify the usefulness of the proposed model, we applied it to the container transportation network design problem from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders including Chinese container port authorities.

Keywords: container transportation; global supply chains; game theory; GAs; genetic algorithms; supply chain management; SCM; equilibrium models; containerisation; network design; China; container port authorities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2010.032942

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2010 Vol.6 No.4, pp.362 - 379

Published online: 05 May 2010 *

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