In this chapter we discuss a tactical optimisation problem that arises in a multistage distribution system where customer orders can be delivered from any stockpoint. A simple rule to allocate orders to locations is a break quantity rule, which routes large orders to higher-stage stockpoints and...

We analyze the classical inventory model with backordering, where the inventory position is controlled by an order level, order quantity policy. The cost for a backorder contains a fixed and a time-proportional component. Demand can be driven by any discrete process. Order lead times may be...

In this study we investigate the desired level of recovery under various inventory control policies when the success of recovery is probabilistic. All the used and returned items go into a recovery process that is modelled as a single stage operation. The recovery effort is represented by the...

The floating stock distribution concept exploits intermodal transport to deploy inventories in a supply chain in advance of retailer demand. In this way response times are reduced and storage costs can be reduced as well by having products in the pipeline. In this paper we present two...