MSCI 574 : Logistics Modelling
(Phase 2 – Spring Term)
Tutor: Professor Konstantinos Zografos
The purpose of this course is to understand and use in somewhat simple contexts some of the basic models from logistics. Algebraic formulations will be used as vehicle for describing models and discussing their relationships. There will be a focus on modelling, the use of professional software, and the understanding of results. For problems where exact solutions are hard to achieve even for simple instances of the problem, heuristics will be discussed.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
Recognize the basic logistics models when they face the real problems or read an algebraic formulation. They are also expected to be able to write algebraic formulations for problems related to those studied in class. For problems with reasonably simple algebraic formulations (will be made clear during the course), they should be able to use professional software to solve and understand moderately sized instances. For problems where the algebraic formulations are in themselves difficult (such as for the vehicle routing problem), some basic heuristics will be discussed rather than advanced methods for finding optimal solutions.
Outline Lecture Plan
- Network flow model
- Facility location
- Network design
- Facility layout
- The Bullwhip Effect
- Vehicle routing
- Warehousing
- City logistics
Assessment
Coursework (30%)
Exam (70%)
Core Texts
No one book covers the whole course. The following are useful core resources, and will be supplemented by additional readings during the module.
Articles distributed in the course. These are useful but not needed.
M.T. Melo, S. Nickel, F. Saldanha-da-Gama, Facility location and supply chain management - A review, European Journal of Operational Research 196 (2009) 401-412.
J-F Cordeau, M Gendreau, G Laporte, J-Y Potvin and F Semet, A guide to vehicle routing heuristics, Journal of the Operational Research Society 53:512-522, 2002.
Kees Jan Roodbergen, Iris F.A. Vis, A survey of literature on automated storage and retrieval systems. European Journal of Operational Research 194 (2009) 343-362.
Arnt-Gunnar Lium, Teodor G. Crainic and Stein W. Wallace, A study of demand stochasticity in service network design. Transportation Science 43 (2009) 144-157.
René de Koster, Tho Le-Duc, Kees Jan Roodbergen, Design and control of warehouse order picking: a literature review, European Journal of Operational Research 182 (2007) 481-501
Teodor Gabriel Crainic. Service network design in freight transportation. European Journal of Operational Research 122 (2000) 272-288.
Books for general modelling
H.P. William, Model Building in Mathematical Programming, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1999. (The last edition is the fourth, but older will do as well.)
Those really interested in integer programming should consult this one
G. Nemhauser and L. Wolsey, Integer and Combinatorial Optimization, Wiley Intersciences, New York, 1988.
