The Logic of Logistics: Theory, Algorithms, and Applications for Logistics Management (Springer Series in Operations Research and Financial Engineering)

Fierce competition in today's global market provides a powerful motivation for developing ever more sophisticated logistics systems. This book, written for the logistics manager and researcher, presents a survey of the modern theory and application of logistics. The goal of the book is to present the state of the art in the science of logistics management. This third edition includes new chapters on the subjects of game theory, the power of process flexibility, supply chain competition and collaboration. Among the other materials new to the edition are sections on discrete convex analysis and its applications to stochastic inventory models, as well as extended discussions of integrated inventory and pricing models. The material presents a timely and authoritative survey of the field that will make an invaluable companion to the work of many researchers and practitioners. Review of earlier edition: "The present book focuses on the application of operational research and mathematical modelling techniques to logistics and supply chain management (SCM) problems. The authors performed a substantial revision of the 1st edition and included a number of new subjects ... . The book is carefully written and is an important reference for readers with a solid background in probability and optimisation theory ... . the present book should be seen as a valuable guide describing techniques that can be applied or adapted to real-life situations." (OR News, Issue 25, 2005) Front Matter....Pages i-xx Introduction....Pages 1-12 Front Matter....Pages 13-13 Convexity and Supermodularity....Pages 15-44 Game Theory....Pages 45-64 Worst-Case Analysis....Pages 65-84 Average-Case Analysis....Pages 85-98 Mathematical Programming-Based Bounds....Pages 99-113 Front Matter....Pages 115-115 Economic Lot Size Models with Constant Demands....Pages 117-136 Economic Lot Size Models with Varying Demands....Pages 137-150 Stochastic Inventory Models....Pages 151-175 Integration of Inventory and Pricing....Pages 177-209 Front Matter....Pages 211-211 Supply Chain Competition and Collaboration Models....Pages 213-228 Procurement Contracts....Pages 229-240 Process Flexibility....Pages 241-262 Supply Chain Planning Models....Pages 263-281 Facility Location Models....Pages 283-298 Front Matter....Pages 299-299 The Capacitated VRP with Equal Demands....Pages 301-312 The Capacitated VRP with Unequal Demands....Pages 313-339 The VRP with Time-Window Constraints....Pages 341-357 Solving the VRP Using a Column-Generation Approach....Pages 359-375 Front Matter....Pages 377-377 Network Planning....Pages 379-402 Front Matter....Pages 377-377 A Case Study: School Bus Routing....Pages 403-419 Back Matter....Pages 421-447 Fierce competition in today's global market provides a powerful motivation for developing ever more sophisticated logistics systems. This book, written for the logistics manager and researcher, presents a survey of the modern theory and application of logistics. The goal of the book is to present the state-of-the-art in the science of logistics management. As a result, the authors have written a timely and authoritative survey of this field that many practitioners and researchers will find makes an invaluable companion to their work.