A 3PL supplier selection model based on fuzzy sets

Outsourcing is an increasingly important task pursued by enterprises seeking improved efficiency. Logistics outsourcing, or third-party logistics (3PL), involves the use of external companies to perform some or all of the firm's logistics activities. In this paper, through analyzing the features and role of third-party logistics, for 3PL provider selection, we propose an indicator system and a method for data integration. We also establish a comprehensive evaluation model for 3PL suppliers based on fuzzy sets; furthermore, we propose a compound quantification model based on centralized quantification values, a comparison method based on the synthesis effect, and a 3PL supplier selection model. A real-world case analysis is provided. The results show that the proposed 3PL supplier selection model can effectively integrate decision preferences into decision processes.     

Hybrid simulation-analytical modeling approaches for the reverse logistics network design of a third-party logistics provider

In this study, we consider a manufacturer that has strategically decided to outsource the company specific reverse logistics (RL) activities to a third-party logistics (3PL) service provider. Given the locations of the collection centers and reprocessing facilities, the RL network design of the 3PL involves finding the number and places of the test centers under supply uncertainty associated with the quantity of the returns. Hybrid simulation-analytical modeling, which iteratively uses mixed integer programming models and simulation, is a suitable framework for handling the uncertainties in the stochastic RL network design problem. We present two hybrid simulation-analytical modeling approaches for the RL network design of the 3PL. The first one is an adaptation of a problem-specific approach proposed in the literature for the design of a distribution network design of a 3PL. The second one involves the development of a generic approach based on a recently proposed novel solution methodology. In the generic approach instead of exchanging problem-specific parameters between the analytical and simulation model, the interaction is governed by reflecting the impact of uncertainty obtained via simulation to the objective function of the analytical model. The results obtained from the two approaches under different scenario and parameter settings are discussed.     

基于WebGIS的第四方物流跟踪及应急系统设计与实现*

随着现代物流的迅速发展,物流模式由第三方物流向第四方物流过渡。作为物流过程的中介者,第四方物流需要对物流过程进行全程跟踪并且作出相应的决策,因此,为第四方物流提供了一个基于WebGIS的物流跟踪及应急决策系统。根据第四方物流业务的需要,对物流过程中涉及的订单即时跟踪、车辆动态监控、应急预案决策生成等进行了有效的模拟和实现。系统将电子地图应用于跟踪与应急决策系统,为用户提供了一个可视化载体,并在运输车辆动态监控过程中融合使用GPS、GPRS和WebGIS技术,实现了物流运送过程中的动态可视化效果;同时在应急     

Application of a hybrid intelligent decision support model in logistics outsourcing

Outsourcing is an increasingly important issue pursued by corporations seeking improved efficiency. Logistics outsourcing or third-party logistics (3PL) involves the use of external companies to perform some or all of the firm's logistics activities. This paper proposes an intelligent decision support framework for effective 3PL evaluation and selection. The proposed framework integrates case-based reasoning, rule-based reasoning and compromise programming techniques in fuzzy environment. This real-time decision-making approach deals with uncertain and imprecise decision situations. Furthermore, the integration of different methodologies takes the advantage of their strengths and complements each other's weaknesses. Consequently, the framework leads to a more accurate, flexible and efficient retrieval of 3PL service providers (alternatives) that are most similar and most useful to the current decision situation. Finally, a real industrial application is given to demonstrate the potential of the proposed framework.     

多等级蓄意攻击下的第三方物流可靠性网络设计

在考虑多等级蓄意攻击的情况下,研究第三方物流(3PL)可靠性网络设计问题.建立问题的多层优化模型:3PL网络设计模型在可靠性约束下通过开设不同安全等级的物流设施来最小化总物流成本;蓄意攻击模型选择不同等级的攻击策略使网络的服务水平最低;网络流决策模型可最大化网络受攻击后的服务能力.根据问题模型的特点,设计改进两层人工蜂群(ABC)算法,上层ABC算法求解3PL网络设计问题,下层ABC算法求解蓄意攻击优化问题.网络流决策问题则通过网络流算法进行求解.最后,通过仿真实验来验证所提出模型的合理性及算法的有效性.     

DSS for 3PL provider selection in global supply chain: combining the multi-objective optimization model with experts’ opinions

To provide selections of logistics outsourcing providers in a global supply chain, this paper proposes a decision support system (DSS), based on fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) and preemptive fuzzy integer goal programming (PFIGP). For decision-makers, a suitable method for selecting third-party logistics (3PL) is critical under the trends of globalization and specialization. The proposed DSS for 3PL provider selection takes into consideration flexible resource and interactions among providers. When applying multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) to selection of 3PL providers, it is difficult for decision-makers to determine the feasible solution domain under limited resources, especially if the decision problems are NP-complete. Moreover, traditional mathematical programming does not incorporate experts’ evaluation of providers. This paper employs FANP to obtain experts’ scores of the providers, and then integrates the scores into PFIGP to facilitate selection of a 3PL provider with flexible resources. Finally, this paper uses genetic algorithms to solve the PFIGP. An illustrative example is also given to demonstrate such DSS. The test result shows that the degree of providers’ interaction affects the final weight of FANP.     

考虑蓄意攻击的第三方物流多周期可靠性网络设计

研究多周期环境下的第三方物流(3PL) 可靠性网络设计问题, 并考虑蓄意攻击中断. 建立多层的3PL 可靠性网络设计模型. 网络优化模型在满足可靠性约束条件下优化各周期的网络结构, 包括物流设施的开设和运输量的确定, 使网络总成本最小. 蓄意攻击模型优化各周期的攻击策略使网络服务水平最低. 根据问题模型的特点, 设计改进的两层分布估计算法, 上层分布估计算法求解多周期3PL 网络设计模型, 下层分布估计算法求解多周期攻击模型. 最后, 通过仿真实验表明了模型的合理性和算法的有效性.

     

基于Web的3PL信息系统设计

如何降低整个供应链的物流成本并尽可能多地攫取“第三利润”是供应链与供应链之间竞争焦点,而3PL信息化是提高供应链竞争力的一种有效途径。首先研究供应链中第三方物流运作模式,进而说明第三方物流信息系统在整个供应链中的重要性。根据我国第三方物流企业应用信息系统的实际现状,基于Web的信息系统逐渐成为未来信息系统开发的主流模式,由此本文提出一种基于Web的第三方物流信息系统设计的方法,并给出Web环境下第三方物流信息系统网络结构关系图。     

供应商竞争关系下的第三方物流融资及物流服务决策

研究第三方物流企业（3PL）在处于竞争关系中的供应商面临资金约束时的融资策略选择问题。考虑由两个竞争关系的供应商和一个零售商构成的两级供应链,3PL企业为供应链提供代采购、物流及融资服务,分别考虑在代采购中向供应商提供融资能够获得价格折扣和代采购中考虑额外资金成本情况下,3PL融资意愿选择,向供应商提供（不提供）融资。建立3PL、供应商和零售商在不同情况下的收益模型,并给出供应商和零售商的最优定价,以及3PL的最优物流服务收费决策,通过比较融资前后各个企业的收益分析3PL参与供应链融资的积极作用。研究发现3PL向处于竞争环境下的资金短缺供应商提供融资能够增加3PL、零售商和供应链整体的收益,且3PL更愿意在考虑自身资金成本的情况下向供应商提供融资,并且供应商之间竞争越激烈,3PL和零售商的获益越大。     

Decision and coordination in a competing retail channel involving a third-party logistics provider

This paper investigates decision and coordination in a supply-chain-wide system consisting of a manufacturer, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, and two competing retailers. The product distribution functions may be implemented by the 3PL provider or the two retailers who face a decision problem that whether the 3PL provider should be introduced. The advantage of introducing the 3PL provider lies in his/her lower logistics cost. The drawback lies in the 3PL provider’s profit margin which leads to classic double marginalization. A new insight provided by this paper is that whether or not introducing the 3PL provider depends on the balance of these two effects. This paper reveals the conditions of the balance and explores the effect of retail competition on this balance. Furthermore, we discuss the dominant retailer model where one retailer is a price leader, and the other is a price follower. Whether the 3PL provider should be introduced under the dominant retailer model is also analyzed. Finally, three contracts: a spanning revenue-sharing contract, a quantity discount contract and a two-part tariffs contract are devised to effectively coordinate the decentralized system involving the 3PL provider.     

A Coordination-Based Algorithm for Dedicated Destination Vehicle Routing in B2B E-Commerce

This paper proposes a solution to the open vehicle routing problem with time windows (OVRPTW) considering third-party logistics (3PL). For the typical OVRPTW problem, most researchers consider time windows, capacity, routing limitations, vehicle destination, etc. Most researchers who previously investigated this problem assumed the vehicle would not return to the depot, but did not consider its final destination. However, by considering 3PL in the B2B e-commerce, the vehicle is required back to the nearest 3PL location with available space. This paper formulates the problem as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model with the objective of minimizing the total travel distance. A coordinate representation particle swarm optimization (CRPSO) algorithm is developed to obtain the best delivery sequencing and the capacity of each vehicle. Results of the computational study show that the proposed method provides solution within a reasonable amount of time. Finally, the result compared to PSO also indicates that the CRPSO is effective.     

A high performing meta-heuristic for training support vector regression in performance forecasting of supply chain

The prevalence of the use of third-party logistics (3PL) providers is noticeable. The complexity of the relationships pertinent to 3PL is greater than that of any traditional logistics supplier relationships. Moreover, they can be considered as truly strategic alliances. The use of the mentioned relationships to increase the flexibility of the organization to address the rapid changes occurring in market conditions has become popular while these relationships concentrate on the core competencies as well as the development of long-term growth strategies. A good number of studies have examined the selection of service providers. With respect to the selection of the service providers, the most recent studies approved the better performance of neural networks in comparison with the conventional methods to provide a solution for the real-world engineering problems, one of the sociopolitically inspired optimization strategies named imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) is used. In order to select the 3PL, integration of the support vector regression (SVR) and self-adaptive ICA (SAICA) has offered a novel model, in which SAICA is utilized to adjust the parameters of the SVR. The suggested model is applied for cosmetics production. Moreover, the comparison of the suggested model and back-propagation neural networks, pure SVR, and ICA–SVR is presented. Higher estimation accuracy is achieved as the results of the proposed model reveal, which leads to the effective prediction.     

TOPSIS定权的FCE法在物流供应商选择中的应用

根据汽车逆向物流供应链结构特点,构建了第三方汽车逆向物流供应商评价指标体系,创新性地提出了采用定量的TOPSIS法来确定二级指标的权重,采用定性的层次分析法(AHP)来确定一级指标的权重,构建了基于TOPSIS法与AHP法相结合定权的模糊综合评判法模型,给出了该模型的计算步骤。通过算例验证了该模型的可行性和该评价指标体系的实用性。     

物流信息交换平台的设计与应用

随着Internet技术的高速发展,企业内部及企业之间的相互联系日趋紧密,没有统一数据格式的企业间信息交换已成为阻碍电子商务广泛开展的最大障碍。文中结合浙江省重大科技攻关项目(2003C11033)“第三方物流智能信息协作平台及其应用示范”,对ebXML的关键技术ebMS做了详细的分析和研究。设计了基于ebMS的物流信息交换平台,实现了企业之间数据格式的转换以及信息的可靠安全传输,并简述了平台实现以后会给企业带来的竞争优势和经济效益。     

Conceptual Warehouse Design Algorithm Using a Network Flow Model

Currently, third-party logistics (3PL) services are growing rapidly. In the current business climate, the goal of each 3PL firm is to reduce the time required for warehouse design. In this paper, a warehouse design problem is discussed. The problem is to determine the number of machines used in a warehouse and the product flow among the devices. In the conventional design process, such a problem would be solved with experimental and intuitional approaches. However, conventional approaches require large amounts of time. In addition, the design outcome is dependent on the skill of the designer. In order to provide theoretical guidelines for the design itself and shorten the design process, we propose a new design method using an extended network flow model. The network flows are expressed as the combination of the flow in the preparation time and that in the lead time. The mathematical model is constructed and solved as a threshold optimization algorithm including the mixed integer linear programming problem. We then evaluated the feasibility of the proposed model and method using real data, and confirmed the effect of the proposed method with regard to time reduction and the obtained design results.     

基于客户满意度的第四方物流多属性指派决策机制

基于第四方物流客户的多样化需求,建立了客户满意度属性体系及量化标准;通过对物流客户和第三方物流进行需求和供给的多属性分析,给出了属性需求和供给值矩阵;通过研究属性需求和供给值之间的关系,建立了基于客户满意度的第四方物流多属性指派决策方案;利用Microsoft Excel中的规划求解对一个实例计算,并通过对比分析验证了这一多属性指派决策方案的可行性、实用性和有效性。     

基于第三方回收再制造逆向物流网络设计

针对再制造逆向物流网络设计问题, 在考虑产品回收量和消费市场需求量不确定的条件下, 以第三方物流企业收益最大化和制造商收益最大化为目标建立了基于第三方回收多周期再制造逆向物流网络模型. 利用该模型可以确定每个周期制造商购买第三方物流企业产品的最优价格, 可以确定网络中回收中心和检测/拆卸中心的开设数量以及各设施间的物流量分配. 将不确定参数用三角模糊数表示, 借助模糊机会约束规划方法将该模型转化为确定性等价模型. 利用算例验证了模型的有效性, 并用目标规划法分析了两个目标之间的关系.     

随机中断下第三方物流弹复性网络设计*

实际环境下第三方物流（3PL）网络会面临各种不确定的中断风险。为了使3PL系统能够安全、有效的运作,研究3PL弹复性网络设计问题模型和算法。建立带有弹复性约束的3PL网络设计优化模型,通过选择开设3PL物流中心和3PL仓库最小化总物流成本,同时使弹复性满足要求水平。根据问题模型的NP特性,设计和声搜索(HS)算法进行求解,并采用蒙特卡洛仿真方法估算网络的弹复性。最后,通过仿真实验来验证模型的合理性及HS算法的有效性,并分析弹复性对算法性能和网络设计结果的影响 。仿真实验结果表明HS算法能够对问题进行有效求解。     

第四方物流协同路径定制问题研究

为了解决第三方物流（3PL）供应商面临的高运输成本问题,以第四方物流（4PL）供应商的角度,提出了多第三方物流（3PL）供应商协同为客户定制路径的问题。针对该问题在模型求解上要同时考虑路径与3PL供应商的特点,设计了基于K-短路的混合粒子群算法（K-PSO）。实验分析中,通过K-PSO算法与遗传算法和枚举算法对不同节点数目以及不同3PL供应商个数下仿真算例的计算,表明了算法的有效性。最后,通过对3PL转运成本的改变,展示了4PL协同运输的优势。     

ST Logistics: Distributing Consumer Goods in China

This paper describes the experience gained from a research collaboration between a group of researchers at the National University of Singapore and logistics executives in Sembcorp Logistics (formerly ST Logistics), in the latter's effort to develop a marketing and strategic planning software tool to enhance its third party logistics (3PL) services in China. As China opened up its economy in the late 1980s, many Western consumer goods manufacturers set up plants or formed joint ventures in China in an attempt to capture this huge market. While the production process can be easily built on the existing technologies and can be efficient costwise, the distribution process is still a challenge because of the backward nature of the infrastructure and the bureaucratic roadblocks, resulting in very high supply chain transaction costs. Consequently, most manufacturers turn to third-party logistics providers (3PLs) who have the required logistics expertise to operate in China. One of the leading 3PLs in China is Shenzhen ST-Anda Logistics (ST-Anda), a joint venture between Sembcorp Logistics and China Merchant Holdings. It has an existing pan-China network of distribution centers. Recently, to improve services to their customers, ST-Anda started planning for the expansion of their logistics distribution network. An OR/MS modeling approach was taken to help them in this venture.