Integrated network design and inventory management in service parts logistics systems

服务零件物流（SPL）是供应链管理的一部分，指提供售后服务（例如，在网络服务器、医疗设备或飞机发生故障时，提供零件和必要的现场维修）。SPL行业目前在全球价值1.5万亿美元，主要行业每年增长15-20%。运营SPL网络的主要挑战是保证为有需要的客户提供高度响应的服务（通常在客户提出请求的几个小时内）。由于存在多种类别的客户及其服务质量保证，这一问题进一步复杂化。零件种类的增加及其需求的不确定性增加了规划过程的复杂性。此外，许多产品的生命周期缩短导致需求不频繁的零件激增。由于这些相互冲突的目标，在SPL系统中出现了一些具有挑战性的问题，如设计一个网络的零件库存设施，规划库存订购政策，并派遣所需的零件从制造商的网络内的设施，地理上分布的客户需要。该计划的目标是开发各种数学模型和解决方案，以了解SPL系统中网络设计和库存决策的相互作用和相互依赖性。 本研究的结果和见解将作为一个有用的决策支持工具，为管理人员在工业环境中，以及非商业企业，如军队，在设计和管理他们的SPL网络有效。

Service Parts Logistics (SPL) is a part of supply chain management that refers to providing after-sales service (e.g. providing parts and necessary repair on-site upon the breakdown of network servers, medical equipment, or aircraft). SPL industry is currently worth $1.5 trillion worldwide with major sectors growing at 15-20% annually. The major challenge in operating an SPL network is to guarantee a highly responsive service to customers in need (usually within few hours of customer's request). The problem is further complicated by the presence of multiple classes of customers and their quality of service guarantees. The increasing variety of parts and the uncertainty in their demand add to the complexity of the planning process. Furthermore, shrinking life cycle of many products results in a proliferation of parts with infrequent demands. As a result of these conflicting objectives, there arises a number of challenging problems in SPL systems such as designing a network of part stocking facilities, planning inventory ordering policies, and dispatching the required parts from the facility within the manufacturer's network to geographically distributed customers in need. The goal of the proposed program is to develop a variety of mathematical models and solution approaches to understand the interaction and the interdependencies of the network design and inventory decisions in SPL systems. The results and insights from this research will act as a useful decision support tool for the managers in industrial settings, as well as non-commercial enterprises such as the military, in designing and managing their SPL network efficiently.