Efficient Design of Grocery Distribution Networks.

连锁超市需要大量不同的产品，这些产品由许多不同的供应商生产，以便在大量的商店中销售。因此，他们使用一个非常大的分销网络将产品从供应商运输到商店。该项目的目的是产生一个模型，设计一个有效的分销网络。中间设施用于通过允许产品以最有效的方式运输来改善网络。本博士学位的目的是开发一种模型/方法，该模型/方法将支持决策，其决策对应于：-中间设施：我们应该使用哪种中间设施？我们将需要决定是否使用现有的中间设施和/或建造新的设施。在建造新的商店时，我们需要考虑建造这些设施的最佳位置，以及哪些商店将由哪个中间设施提供服务。路线：车辆应通过哪些设施？流经网络：每种产品在设施之间运输的适当数量是多少？目标是在经济效益和减少有害排放方面建立最具成本效益的网络。我们的计划是使用启发式的方法给出了高度复杂的性质的优化问题。

Supermarket chains require a large number of different products which are produced by many different suppliers to sell in a large number of stores. Hence they use a very large distribution network to transport products from suppliers to stores. The aim of this project is to produce a model which designs an efficient distribution network. Intermediate facilities are used to improve the network by allowing products to be transported in the most efficient manner.The aim of this PhD is to develop a model/method which will support the decision making with decisions corresponding to:- Intermediate facilities: Which intermediate facilities should we use? We will need to decide whether to use intermediate facilities that already exist and/or build new ones. When building new ones we will need to consider the best location to build these facilities and which stores will be served by which intermediate facility.- Routes: What routes through facilities should vehicles take?- Flow through the network: What is the appropriate quantity of each product to transport between facilities.The objective is to make the most cost-efficient network in terms of economic benefits and reduction in harmful emissions. Our plan is to use heuristic methods given the highly complicated nature of the optimisation problem.