Optimization of the cold supply chain logistics network with an environmental dimension

Abstract

This article is the result of generalizing a real practical problem of optimizing the operation of a cold supply logistics network. A small (up to 100 clients) logistics company solves the problem of operational planning: during the working day (fixed time window) to provide the supply of cold (food) products from distribution centers to end consumers along well-defined routes (i.e., the logistic network graph is fixed). The company has set the following conditions for the authors. In addition to minimizing the usual transport costs, take into account also the environmental costs (associated with negative consequences for the environment) that arise during the operation of the logistics supply network. And also when deciding to use software available to the company. The case is considered when the transport tariff on each route is a linearly increasing function of the total volume of all traffic on this route. When the Nash equilibrium conditions are met, the mathematical model for optimizing the total costs of the logistics network is reduced to a convex (quadratic) programming problem. Computer implementation in MS Excel environment has been carried out. This makes it possible to carry out simulation calculations for various options for transport costs on routes, taking into account environmental costs.