Optimization Approaches For The Design Of Realistic Supply Chains

Optimization Approaches for the Design of Realistic Supply Chains

Optimization Approaches for the Design of Realistic Supply Chains

Supply chain practitioners often see themselves confronted with a multitude of factors making the design and optimization of their supply chains challenging. Such factors include non-linear cost structures, stochasticity, and often the mere magnitude of the real-life problems, making classical optimization approaches infeasible. In this book, the author presents useful solution methods for realistic problems with the afore-mentioned characteristics. Methods for optimizing the design of both deterministic and stochastic supply chains are introduced. In addition, approaches to flexibilize supply chains are explored. For existing supply chains, methods to test the sensitivity of these supply chains to future factor cost changes are developed. The supply chains presented in the book are from the chemical industry. However, the methods are broadly applicable to a wide range of industries. Potential readership includes scholars and graduate students as well as practitioners who are interested in the field of (realistic) supply chain design.

Biomass to Biofuel Supply Chain Design and Planning under Uncertainty

Biomass to Biofuel Supply Chain Design and Planning under Uncertainty: Concepts and Quantitative Methods explores the design and optimization of biomass-to-biofuel supply chains for commercial-scale implementation of biofuel projects by considering the problems and challenges encountered in real supply chains. By offering a fresh approach and discussing a wide range of quantitative methods, the book enables researchers and practitioners to develop hybrid methods that integrate the advantages and features of two or more methods in one decision-making framework for the efficient optimization of biofuel supply chains, especially for complex supply chain models. Combining supply chain management and modeling techniques in a single volume, the book is beneficial for graduate students who no longer need to consult subject-specific books alongside mathematical modeling textbooks. The book consists of two main parts. The first part describes the key components of biofuel supply chains, including biomass production, harvesting, collection, storage, preprocessing, conversion, transportation, and distribution. It also provides a comprehensive review of the concepts, problems, and opportunities associated with biofuel supply chains, such as types and properties of the feedstocks and fuel products, decision-making levels, sustainability concepts, uncertainty analysis and risk management, as well as integration of biomass supply chain with other supply chains. The second part focuses on modeling and optimization of biomass-to-biofuel supply chains under uncertainty, using different quantitative methods to determine optimal design. - Proposes a general multi-level framework for the optimal design and operation of biomass-to-biofuel supply chains through quantitative analysis and modeling, including different biomass and waste biomass feedstock, production pathways, technology options, transportation modes, and final products - Explores how modeling and optimization tools can be utilized to address sustainability issues in biofuel supply chains by simultaneously assessing and identifying sustainable solutions - Presents several case studies with different regional constraints to evaluate the practical applicability of different optimization methods and compares their performance in real-world situations - Includes General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) codes for solving biomass supply chain optimization problems discussed in different chapters