This paper studies the fleet size and mix vehicle routing problem (FSMVRP), in which the fleet is heterogeneous and its composition to be determined. We design and implement a genetic algorithm (GA) based heuristic. On a set of twenty benchmark problems it reaches the best-known solution 14...

This paper presents a formal model of traveler compliance with different types of advice (or guidance, prescriptive information) based on the premises of Bayesian expected utility decision-making. The developed model explains a traveler's propensity to comply with received advice in terms of the...

We model the strategic as well as the operational dimension of performance of supplier-retailer partnerships in terms of five factors: (1) information exchange; (2) trust; (3) joint partnership management; (4) relationship-specific assets; and (5) partner asymmetry. Our paired data are from 74...

Transportation service subcontracting is becoming an effective means of business for many leading carriers to maintain their market dominance and profitability. This research is based on an outsourcing practice in one of the few largest limousine fleet companies in the US, whose (mostly advance)...

In this paper, we deal with more generalized inventory coordination mechanism in an n-stage, multi-customer, non-serial supply chain, where we extend and generalize pervious works that use algebraic methods to optimize this coordinated supply chain. We establish the recursive expressions for...

This paper uses seemingly unrelated regression analysis and annual Ohio data for 1975-2000 to estimate a model for six different types of motor vehicle fatalities: car occupants, light truck occupants, large truck occupants, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and pedalcyclists. It finds that while...

This research identifies factors that are the major contributors to freight rail congestion using statistical analysis. Total train running time is predicted based on free running time predictors (horsepower per ton, track topography and slow orders) and congestion-related factors (meets,...

A new column generation based exact optimization approach for the vehicle routing and scheduling problem with semi soft time windows (VRPSSTW) is presented. Elementary shortest path problem with resource constraints and late arrival penalties is solved as a subproblem, which rises from the...

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is regarded as a promising technology for the optimization of supply chain processes since it improves manufacturing and retail operations from forecasting demand to planning, managing inventory, and distribution. This study uses a simulation model to...

This study investigates the decisions of replenishment and lead-time reduction for a single-manufacturer multiple-retailer integrated inventory system in which the probability distribution of demand for each retailer is unknown but its mean and variance are given. A decision model is presented...