Increased uncertainty is one of the characteristics of product recovery networks. In particular the strategic design of their logistic infrastructure has to take uncertain information into account. In this paper we present stochastic programming based approaches by which a deterministic location...

The FAMAS-Newcon project aims at developing new logistic control structures for a container terminal capable of handling jumbo container ships within 24 hours. In one of the subprojects stacking aspects is studied. This report describes a generator model in which on the basis of a global...

During the last two decades, many heuristic procedures for the joint replenishment problem have appeared in the literature. The only available optimal solution procedure was based on an enumerative approach and was computationally prohibitive. In this paper we present an alternative optimal...

This paper gives an overview of scientific literature that describes and discusses cases of reverse logistics activities in practice. Over sixty case studies are considered. Based on these studies we are able to indicate critical factors for the practice of reverse logistics. In addition we...

In multi-echelon distribution systems it is usually assumed that demand is only satisfied from the lowest echelon. In this paper we will consider the case where demand can be satisfied from any level in the system. However, then the problem arises of how to allocate orders from customers to the...

In this paper we describe a decision support system developed to help in assessing the need for various type of prison cells. In particular we predict the probability that a criminal has to be sent home because of a shortage of cells. The problem is modelled through a queueing network with...

This paper presents a case study of applying a Bayesian approach to forecast demand and subsequently determine the appropriate parameter S of an (S-1,S) inventory system for controlling spare parts of electronic equipment. First, the problem and the current policy are described. Then, the basic...

Strategic airline fleet planning is one of the major issues addressed through newly initiated decision support systems, designed to assist airlines and aircraft manufacturers in assessing the benefits of the emerging concept of dynamic capacity allocation. We present background research...

The literature on stochastic models for inventory control with product returns commonly makes the following simplifying assumptions: demand and returns are each a homogeneous (compound) Poisson process, and the processes are independent of each other. In this paper we explore the validity of...

We consider the Nelder and Mead Simplex Method for the optimization of stochastic simulation models. Existing and new adaptive extensions of the Nelder and Mead simplex method designed to improve the accuracy and consistency of the observed best point are studied. We compare the performance of...