An optimization model based decision support tools for inventory-routing rescheduling problem

The present work addresses inventory-routing rescheduling problem (IRRP) that is needed when some minor changes happen in the time of execution of pre-planned scheduling of an inventory-routing problem (IRP). Due to the complexity of the process of departing from one pre-planned scheduling IRP to a rescheduling IRP, here a decision-support tool is devised to help the decision-maker. This complexity comes from the issue that changes in an agreed schedule including the used capacity of the vehicle, total distance and other factors that need a re-agreements negotiation which directly relates to the agreed costs especially when a carrier contractor is responsible for the distribution of goods between customers. From one side he wants to stick to the pre-planned scheduling and from the other side, changes in predicted data of problem at the time of execution need a new optimized solution. The proposed approached applies mathematical modeling for optimizing the rescheduled problem and offers a sensitivity analysis to study the influence of the different adjustment of variables (carried load, distance, …).