Multi-Objective Mathematical Model for Locating Flow Optimization Facilities in Supply Chain of Deteriorating Products

Managing supply chain operations in a reliable manner is a significant concern for decision-makers in competitive industries. In recent years consumers and legislation have been pushing companies to design their activities in such a way as to reduce negative environmental impacts more and more. It is therefore important to examine the optimization of total supply chain costs and environmental impacts together. However, because of the recycling of deteriorated products, the environmental impacts of deteriorating items are more significant than those of non-deteriorating ones. The subject of supply chain of deteriorating products, simultaneously considering costs and environment has gained attention in the academia and from the industry. Particularly for deteriorating and seasonal products, such as fresh produce, the issues of timely supply and disposal of the deteriorated products are of high concerns. The objective of this paper is to develop multi objective mathematical model and to propose a new replenishment policy in a centralized supply chain for deteriorating products. In this model, the manufacturer produces a new product and delivers it to a distant market, and then the distributor buys the product and sells it to the end consumers. This study presents a new mathematical model of the location-routing problem (LRP) of facilities in supply chain network (SCN) for deteriorating products through taking environmental considerations, cost, delivery time and customer satisfaction into account across the entire network and customer satisfaction. In order to solve the model, the combination of the two red deer algorithm (RDA) and annealing simulation (AS) was proposed. We then perform the network optimization in SCN and provide some managerial insights. Finally, more promising directions are suggested for future research.