This paper investigates the delay experienced by retailers in a distribution system due to shortages at the central warehouse. Simple formulae are developed to estimate the mean and variance of this delay. The formulae are based on replacing the stochastic lead-time demand with a stochastic...

This paper presents an approximation model for optimizing reorder points in one-warehouse N-retailer inventory systems subject to highly variable lumpy demand. The motivation for this work stems from close cooperation with a supply chain management software company, Syncron International, and...