Article: The effect analysis of multi-echelon inventory models considering demand rate uncertainty and limited maintenance capacity Journal: International Journal of Operational Research (IJOR) 2015 Vol.24 No.1 pp.38 - 58 Abstract: Multi-echelon technique for recoverable item control (METRIC) has been a basic model in spare part stocking problem for high value with relatively low demand items. As METRIC is improved to vari-METRIC, the accuracy of the model is significantly increased. However, METRIC-based analytical models require strict assumptions for calculating spare stock levels. Many researchers have dedicated to relax those assumptions. Most of those efforts become either computing heuristics or relatively complex models. In this study, we propose a relatively simple METRIC-based model for the optimal allocation of spare stocking problems considering uncertain demand rate and limited repair capacity at the same time. Our models can be applicable to minimise either the expected backorders (EBOs) under a certain budget restriction or spending over certain availability. The proposed model relaxes those two assumptions by applying queueing theory and conditional Poisson probability distribution on demand rate. A numerical study shows the precision improvement. The EBO variation of our proposed model is decreased more than 50% when comparing to that of vari-METRIC. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: The effect analysis of multi-echelon inventory models considering demand rate uncertainty and limited maintenance capacity

Authors: Hyouk Yoon; Sungtae Jung; Sangjin Lee

Addresses: Integrated Logistics Support Team, Army Logistics Command, P.O. Box 120-1-5, Banseok-dong 400, Yooseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-150, South Korea ' Department of Defense Management, Korea National Defense University, 205 Susaek-dong, Eunpyung-gu, Seoul, 122-875, South Korea ' Department of Defense Management, Korea National Defense University, 205 Susaek-dong, Eunpyung-gu, Seoul, 122-875, South Korea

Abstract: Multi-echelon technique for recoverable item control (METRIC) has been a basic model in spare part stocking problem for high value with relatively low demand items. As METRIC is improved to vari-METRIC, the accuracy of the model is significantly increased. However, METRIC-based analytical models require strict assumptions for calculating spare stock levels. Many researchers have dedicated to relax those assumptions. Most of those efforts become either computing heuristics or relatively complex models. In this study, we propose a relatively simple METRIC-based model for the optimal allocation of spare stocking problems considering uncertain demand rate and limited repair capacity at the same time. Our models can be applicable to minimise either the expected backorders (EBOs) under a certain budget restriction or spending over certain availability. The proposed model relaxes those two assumptions by applying queueing theory and conditional Poisson probability distribution on demand rate. A numerical study shows the precision improvement. The EBO variation of our proposed model is decreased more than 50% when comparing to that of vari-METRIC.

Keywords: spare part stocking problem; queueing theory; conditional Poisson probability; finite repair capacity; multi-echelon inventory modelling; demand rate uncertainty; limited maintenance capacity; spare parts; backorders.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2015.070861

International Journal of Operational Research, 2015 Vol.24 No.1, pp.38 - 58

Received: 30 Jan 2013
Accepted: 26 Aug 2013
Published online: 31 Jul 2015 *

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

Title: The effect analysis of multi-echelon inventory models considering demand rate uncertainty and limited maintenance capacity

Keep up-to-date