Optimal reorder decision utilizing centralized stock information in a two-echelon distribution system

The objective of this paper is to develop an optimal reorder policy for a two-echelon distribution system with one central warehouse and multiple retailers. We assume the warehouse has centralized stock information and each facility uses continuous-review batch ordering policy. Since echelon stock policies may show poor performance for distribution systems, we propose a new type of policy that utilizes the centralized stock information more effectively. We define the order risk policy, which decides reorder time based on the order risk which represents the relative cost increase due to immediate order compared to delayed order. We formulate the order risk and prove the optimality of the order risk policy under the system assumption that the warehouse guarantees delivery within the fixed lead time. The order risk is derived from the marginal analysis. Since exact calculation of the order risk is complex, an approximation method is provided. Computational experiment that compares our policy with existing policies shows that a significant cost savings is obtained. The concept of the order risk can be extended to the other models.Scope and purposeDue to the improvement of modern information technologies, many companies start tracking the real-time stock information of the supply chain members. Thus, the reorder policy based on the real-time centralized stock information becomes very important. In this paper, we consider the reorder policy for a continuous-review batch-ordering two-echelon distribution system, utilizing the centralized stock information. Existing reorder policies are classified into installation stock policies and echelon stock policies. Since installation stock policies consider only local stock information, echelon stock policies have been used when the centralized stock information is available. For serial and assembly systems, it has been known that the echelon stock policies are superior to the installation stock policies. However, for distribution systems, both policies may outperform each other in different situations. The purpose of this study is to develop the optimal reorder policy for a distribution system with one-warehouse and multiple retailers, where the real-time stock information is centralized at the warehouse. We define a new type of reorder policy of which the reorder decision is based on the ‘order risk’. The order risk is defined as the relative cost increase due to immediate order compared to delayed order. We formulate the order risk and prove the optimality. For computational simplicity, we provide an approximation method to calculate the order risk. Computational experiment shows that a significant cost savings is obtained.