Designing distribution systems requires two decisions, one strategic (i.e., the number of levels between the producer and the customer) and the other tactical (i.e., channel management policies such as trade discounts and rebates). While the modeling literature focuses on one or the other,...

Distribution channel design is a complex decision involving (a) the strategic choice of the appropriate channel structure, and (b) the tactical selection of the appropriate intermediaries. This paper presents a decision framework and a model to aid management in the tactical selection of the...