Integrated vendor--buyer inventory system with sublot sampling inspection policy and controllable lead time

This article investigates the impact of inspection policy and lead time reduction on an integrated vendor--buyer inventory system. We assume that an arriving order contains some defective items. The buyer adopts a sublot sampled inspection policy to inspect selected items. The number of defective items in the sublot sampling is a random variable. The buyer's lead time is assumed reducible by adding crash cost. Two integrated inventory models with backorders and lost sales are derived. We first assume that the lead time demand follows a normal distribution, and then relax the assumption about the lead time demand distribution function and apply the minimax distribution-free procedure to solve the problem. Consequently, the order quantity, reorder point, lead time and the number of shipments per lot from the vendor to the buyer are decision variables. Iterative procedures are developed to obtain the optimal strategy.     

(Q,r,L) Inventory model with defective items

This paper assumes that an arrival order lot may contain some defective items, and the number of defective items is a random variable. We derive a modified mixture inventory model with backorders and lost sales, in which the order quantity, the reorder point and the lead time are decision variables. In our studies, we first assume that the lead time demand follows a normal distribution, and then relax the assumption about the form of the distribution function of the lead time demand and apply the minimax distribution-free procedure to solve the problem. We develop an algorithm procedure to obtain the optimal ordering strategy. Furthermore, the effects of parameters are also included.     

A minimax distribution free procedure for mixed inventory model involving variable lead time with fuzzy demand

In a recent paper, Ouyang and Wu applied the minimax decision approach to solve a continuous review mixed inventory model in which the lead time demand distribution information is unknown but the annual demand is fixed and given. However, in the practical situation, the annual demand probably incurs disturbance due to various uncertainties. In this article, we attempt to modify Ouyang and Wu's model by considering two fuzziness of annual demand (i.e., fuzzy number of annual demand and statistic-fuzzy number of annual demand) and to investigate a computing schema for the continuous review inventory model in the fuzzy sense. We give an algorithm procedure to obtain the optimal ordering strategy for each case.Scope and purposeIn most of the early literature dealing with inventory problems, either using deterministic or probabilistic models, lead time is viewed as a prescribed constant or a stochastic variable. Recently, some researchers (e.g., Liao and Shyu, Ben-Daya and Raouf, and Ouyang and Wu) incorporated the crashing lead time idea to continuous review inventory models, in which the annual demand is given and fixed. However, in the real situation, the annual demand will probably have a little disturbance due to various uncertainties. The purpose of this article is to modify the Ouyang and Wu's model to accommodate this reality, specifically, we apply the fuzzy set concepts to deal with the uncertain annual demand. We first consider a case where the annual demand is treated as the triangular fuzzy number. Then, we employ the statistical method to construct a confidence interval for the annual demand, and through it to establish the corresponding fuzzy number (namely, the statistic-fuzzy number). For each fuzzy case, we investigate a computing schema for the new model and develop an algorithm to find the optimal ordering strategy.     

Mixture inventory model with back orders and lost sales for variable lead time demand with the mixtures of normal distribution

In recent papers by Ben-Daya and Raouf and by Ouyang et al. a continuous review inventory model is presented in which they considered both the lead time and the order quantity as decision variables. When the demands of the different customers do not have identical lead times, then we cannot use only a distribution (such as Ouyang et al. who used a normal distribution) to describe the demand of the lead time. Hence, we have extended the model of Ouyang et al. by considering the mixtures of normal distribution (see the book by Everitt and Hand). In addition, we also still assume that shortages are allowed. Moreover, the total amount of stock-out is considered as a mixture of back orders and lost sales during the stock-out period. Moreover, we also develop an algorithmic procedure to find the optimal order quantity and optimal lead time; the effects of parameters are also studied.     

Improved inventory models with service level and lead time

This paper explores the mixed inventory backorder and lost sales problem in which both the lead time and order quantity are treated as decision variables. In a recent paper on Computers and Operations Research, Ouyang and Wu considered this problem. However, their algorithms might not find the optimal solution due to flaws in their solution procedure. We develop some lemmas to reveal the parameter effects and then present two complete procedures for finding the optimal solution for the models. The savings are illustrated by solving the same examples from Ouyang and Wu's paper to demonstrate the superiority of our revised algorithms.     

Mixture inventory model involving variable lead time and controllable backorder rate

This paper allows the backorder rate as a control variable to widen applications of Ouyang et al.'s model [J. Oper. Res. Soc. 47 (1996) 829]. In this study, we assume that the backorder rate is dependent on the length of lead time through the amount of shortages. We discuss two models that are perfect and partial information about the lead time demand distribution, that is, we first assume that the lead time demand follows a normal distribution, and then remove this assumption by only assuming that the first and second moments of the probability distribution of lead time demand are known. For each case, we develop an algorithm to find the optimal ordering strategy. Three numerical examples are given to illustrate solution procedure.     

Two EPQ models with imperfect production processes,inspection errors,planned backorders,and sales returns

In practice the items received in a lot may contain defective items, and during the screening process to eliminate the defective items, the inspector may incorrectly classify a non-defective item as defective (a Type I error) or incorrectly classify a defective item as non-defective (a Type II error). In this paper, we develop two economic production quantity models with imperfect production processes, inspection errors, planned backorders, and sales returns. A closed form solution is obtained for the optimal production lot size and the maximum shortage level for both models. We provide two numerical examples, one in which the defective probability and Type I and Type II inspection errors follow uniform distributions, and the second in which we assume they follow beta distributions. Sensitivity analyses are performed to see the impact of the defective probability, the probability of the Type I inspection error, the probability of the Type II inspection error, the holding cost, and the backordering cost on the optimal solutions. We obtain similar results on the sensitivity analyses for both numerical examples. The results show that the time factor of when to sell the defective items has a significant impact on the optimal production lot size and the backorder quantity. The results also show that if customers are willing to wait for the next production when a shortage occurs, it is profitable for the company to have planned backorders although it incurs a penalty cost for the delay.     

A continuous review inventory model with the controllable production rate of the manufacturer

Optimal operating policy in most deterministic and stochastic inventory models is based on the unrealistic assumption that lead‐time is a given parameter. In this article, we develop an inventory model where the replenishment lead‐time is assumed to be dependent on the lot size and the production rate of the manufacturer. At the time of contract with a manufacturer, the retailer can negotiate the lead‐time by considering the regular production rate of the manufacturer, who usually has the option of increasing his regular production rate up to the maximum (designed) production capacity. If the retailer intends to reduce the lead‐time, he has to pay an additional cost to accomplish the increased production rate. Under the assumption that the stochastic demand during lead‐time follows a Normal distribution, we study the lead‐time reduction by changing the regular production rate of the manufacturer at the risk of paying additional cost. We provide a solution procedure to obtain the efficient ordering strategy of the developed model. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the solution procedure.     

A complete proof on the solution procedure for non-instantaneous deteriorating items with permissible delay in payment

Ouyang et al. [Ouyang, L. Y., Wu, K. S., & Yang C. T. (2006). A study on an inventory model for non-instantaneous deteriorating items with permissible delay in payments. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 51, 637–651] present an inventory model for non-instantaneous deteriorating items with permissible delay in payments. They develop some theorems to characterize the optimal solutions and provide an easy-to-use method to find the optimal replenishment cycle time. Although, their inventory models are correct and interesting, processes of arguments to derive those theorems and the easy-to-use method to search for the optimal replenishment cycle time are not complete. So, the main purpose of this paper is to overcome those shortcomings and present complete proofs for Ouyang et al. (2006).     

Economic production quantity (EPQ) models under an imperfect production process with shortages backordered

In this paper, we develop economic production quantity (EPQ) models to determine the optimal production lot size and backorder quantity for a manufacturer under an imperfect production process. The imperfect production process is characterised by the fraction of defective items at the time of production γ. The paper considers different cases of the EPQ model depending on (1) whether γ is known with certainty or is a random variable, and (2) whether imperfect items are drawn from inventory (a) as they are detected, (b) at the end of each production period or (c) at the end of each production cycle. Straightforward convexity results are shown and closed-form solutions are provided for the optimal order and backorder quantities for each of the cases we considered. We provide two numerical examples: one in which the defective probability follows a uniform distribution and the second which we assume follows a beta distribution, to illustrate the effects of yield variability and timing of the withdrawal of defectives on the optimal solutions. We obtain similar results for both numerical examples, which show that both the yield variability and the withdrawal timing are not critical factors.     

Economic ordering policy for an item with imperfect quality subject to the in-house inspection

This article considers a production/inventory system where each lot of items received or produced contains a random proportion of defective units, items of imperfect quality. The purchaser contacts a 100% inspection in order to identify the perfect (acceptable) quality items. The model examines the following two options for the imperfect quality items: sell them to a secondary market, as a single batch and at a price lower to that of new ones, or rework them at some cost and then use them as new ones to satisfy demand. After inspection, the good quality items are sent to the working inventory warehouse in batches of equal size. For both of these cases, the optimal ordering lot size and the optimal number of batches are obtained. A numerical example illustrates the solution procedure and sensitivity analysis results are reported.     

A recursive computer algorithm for determining joint probability inventory distributions

Most reorder point inventory models have been characterized by either variable demands or variable lead times. Commonly used distributions that have been used to represent both demand and lead-time variation have included the Poisson, normal and negative exponential functions. When both demand and lead time are variable, the complexity of constructing a joint distribution to represent the lead-time demand impedes the use of traditional models by practitioners. Practitioners are more likely to use discrete probability distributions to represent both demand and lead-time variation.This paper presents a computer algorithm to facilitate the construction of joint probability distributions that represent the lead-time demand. Component distributions for both demand and lead-time variations are assumed to be discrete. The PASCAL computer model facilitates the construction of joint distributions for numbers of demand and lead-time alternatives too large to permit distribution construction by traditional, manual methods.     

Using the convexities of total annual relevant costs to determine the optimal cycle times of inventory models for deteriorating items with permissible delay in payments

The inventory problem consists of two parts: (1) the modeling and (2) the solution procedure. Ouyang et al.’s inventory models [Ouyang, L. Y., Wu, K. S., & Yang, C. T. (2006). A study on an inventory model for non-instantaneous deteriorating items with permissible delay in payments. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 51, 637–651] are correct and interesting. However, the processes of proofs of Theorems 1 and 2 about solution procedures in Ouyang et al. (2006) are not complete such that accuracies of proofs of their theorems are questionable from the viewpoint of logic. So, this paper will use calculus to explore and adopt the convexities of the total annual relevant costs to overcome those drawbacks and present accurate and complete proofs for Theorems 1 and 2 in Ouyang et al. (2006). Consequently, this paper not only mathematically completes but also improves Ouyang et al. (2006).     

Lot sizing under (Q, R) policy in a capcity constrained manufacturing facility

Traditional approaches to lot sizing and inventory control consider uncertainties in either the demand or manufacturing process but not both. In these models it is usually assumed that the lead times are independent and identically distributed, but this is not realistic in many practical instances. In this paper we consider the lot sizing problem for items with stochastic demands and manufacturing lead times. It is assumed that the inventory of the finished product is controlled by continuous review policy of Q,R type—order quantity, order point system—and the problem is to determine optimal Q and R. We examine the decision parameters under a variety of conditions using exact and approximate methods.     

Optimization of the finite production rate model with scrap,rework and stochastic machine breakdown

This study employs mathematical modeling along with a recursive searching algorithm to determine the optimal run time for an imperfect finite production rate model with scrap, rework, and stochastic machine breakdown. In real-life manufacturing systems, generation of defective items and machine breakdown are inevitable. The objective of this paper is to address these issues and to be able to derive the optimal production run time. It is assumed that the proposed manufacturing system produces defective items randomly, a portion of them is considered to be scrap, and the other portion can be repaired through rework. Further, the proposed system is subject to random breakdown and when it occurs, the abort/resume (AR) policy is adopted. Under such an inventory control policy, the production of the interrupted lot will be resumed immediately when machine is fixed and restored. Mathematical modeling along with a recursive searching algorithm is used for deriving the replenishment policy for such a realistic production system.     

Computational procedure of optimal inventory model involving controllable backorder rate and variable lead time with defective units

This article considers that the number of defective units in an arrival order is a binominal random variable. We derive a modified mixture inventory model with backorders and lost sales, in which the order quantity and lead time are decision variables. In our studies, we also assume that the backorder rate is dependent on the length of lead time through the amount of shortages and let the backorder rate be a control variable. In addition, we assume that the lead time demand follows a mixture of normal distributions, and then relax the assumption about the form of the mixture of distribution functions of the lead time demand and apply the minimax distribution free procedure to solve the problem. Furthermore, we develop an algorithm procedure to obtain the optimal ordering strategy for each case. Finally, three numerical examples are also given to illustrate the results.     

A finite source multi-server inventory system with service facility

In this article, we study a continuous review retrial inventory system with a finite source of customers and identical multiple servers in parallel. The customers arrive according a quasi-random process. The customers demand unit item and the demanded items are delivered after performing some service the duration of which is distributed as exponential. The ordering policy is according to (s, S) policy. The lead times for the orders are assumed to have independent and identical exponential distributions. The arriving customer who finds all servers are busy or all items are in service, joins an orbit. These orbiting customer competes for service by sending out signals at random times until she finds a free server and at least one item is not in the service. The inter-retrial times are exponentially distributed with parameter depending on the number of customers in the orbit. The joint probability distribution of the number of customer in the orbit, the number of busy servers and the inventory level is obtained in the steady state case. The Laplace–Stieltjes transform of the waiting time distribution and the moments of the waiting time distribution are calculated. Various measures of stationary system performance are computed and the total expected cost per unit time is calculated. The results are illustrated numerically.     

A finite source multi-server inventory system with service facility

In this article, we study a continuous review retrial inventory system with a finite source of customers and identical multiple servers in parallel. The customers arrive according a quasi-random process. The customers demand unit item and the demanded items are delivered after performing some service the duration of which is distributed as exponential. The ordering policy is according to (s, S) policy. The lead times for the orders are assumed to have independent and identical exponential distributions. The arriving customer who finds all servers are busy or all items are in service, joins an orbit. These orbiting customer competes for service by sending out signals at random times until she finds a free server and at least one item is not in the service. The inter-retrial times are exponentially distributed with parameter depending on the number of customers in the orbit. The joint probability distribution of the number of customer in the orbit, the number of busy servers and the inventory level is obtained in the steady state case. The Laplace–Stieltjes transform of the waiting time distribution and the moments of the waiting time distribution are calculated. Various measures of stationary system performance are computed and the total expected cost per unit time is calculated. The results are illustrated numerically.     

Optimal replenishment decision in an EPQ model with defective items under supply chain trade credit policy

The traditional inventory of the economic order quantity model assumes perfect items in an ordered lot and an infinite replenishment rate. However, such conditions are rare in actual production environments. Additionally, most studies of this problem have only considered suppliers offering the wholesaler a grace period. In practice, wholesalers often extend a fixed credit period to downstream customers as well. This study therefore proposes a production model for a lot-size inventory system with finite production rate and defective quality under the condition of two-level trade credit policy and the condition that defective items involve both imperfect quality and scrap items. Thus, optimal wholesaler replenishment decisions can be determined for defective items under two-level trade credit policy in the EPQ framework. Four theorems for determining the optimal cycle time and the results in this study can be deduced as a special case of earlier models. Finally, illustrative examples are provided to verify the theoretical results.     

Quality improvement and backorder price discount under controllable lead time in an inventory model

The proposed study investigates a continuous review inventory model with order quantity, reorder point, backorder price discount, process quality, and lead time as decision variables. An investment function is used to improve the process quality. Two models are developed based on the probability distribution of lead time demand. The lead time demand follows a normal distribution in the first model and in the second model it does not follow any specific distribution but mean and standard deviation are known. We prove two lemmas to obtain optimal solutions for the normal distribution model and distribution free model. Finally, some numerical examples are given to illustrate the model.