An application methodology for logistics and transportation scenarios analysis and comparison within the retail supply chain

The article proposes the development of an application methodology, named MARLIN, for logistics and transportation (L%T) scenarios analysis and comparison within the fresh food supply chain (FFSC). The MARLIN application methodology consists of the development of a dedicated simulation-based software tool for scenarios analysis and comparison and its inclusion in a methodology framework. The software tool is based on three different cooperating simulators while the methodology framework consists of three different steps: 1) supply chain rings and constraints definition; 2) L%T scenarios and factors definition; 3) L%T scenarios analysis and comparison. After the description of the cooperating simulators and methodology framework, a case study on a real FFSC is presented to showcase the MARLIN application methodology; the case study provides analytical and numerical results for five L%T scenarios and selects the optimal L%T scenario. [Received 21 May 2011; Revised 25 June 2012; Accepted 6 July 2012]