When Time Matters Most – Mathematical Optimization Model for Overall Blood Supply Chain Time Minimization in a Catastrophe Aftermath

The timeliness of blood supply in the aftermath of a catastrophic event is critical for saving lives. Using historical earthquakes data from Iran, this paper posits and numerically illustrates a fuzzy optimization model to minimize the overall blood supply duration from donation time to the time of administration to victims urgently needing blood. While the main goal of the posited model is to minimize the blood transportation time through the entire blood supply network, other cogent factors like the cost of blood stock maintenance, the waiting time for blood donors and preservation of clinical freshness of blood are also considered to ensure that the modelling closely parallels reality. The blood supply chain network considered in the posited model includes donation groups, mobile blood donation facilities, local and regional blood centres, hospitals and field hospitals. GAMS software is used to find the optimal solutions to the posited optimization model and some practical interpretations of the results are offered