Global optimization for nonlinear supply chain management under uncertainty

供应链优化是指供应链中的生产、库存、选址、运输等环节的最优协调，以达到整个系统的一个或多个目标。上海合作组织决策程序的效率和质量对一家公司的可持续性至关重要，无论是在财务、经济还是社会方面。然而，可持续性的考虑和不可避免的不确定性使得SCO问题成为非常困难的数学优化问题，而使用经典的公式和求解方法无法很好地解决这些问题。本研究旨在利用不确定非线性过程系统全局优化的最新进展，为不确定条件下的上合组织制定更有效、更可靠的求解策略。它涉及两个项目。第一个项目是改进现有的基于分解的全局优化方法，用于解决主要涉及供应链网络设计的战略性SCO问题。第二个项目是为集成的战略和战术SCO问题开发新的公式和全局优化方法，以同时优化供应链设计和运营决策。这项研究将与杜邦加拿大公司合作进行。研究结果不仅有利于杜邦，也有利于其他希望实现供应链可持续发展和运营的公司。研究中开发的软件包可能会商业化，为加拿大人带来新的衍生公司和更多的就业机会。一名硕士生和一名博士生将通过拟议的研究接受培训，他们将获得加拿大工业界广泛寻求的知识和技能。

Supply chain optimization (SCO) is the optimal coordination of production, inventory, location, and transportation in the supply chain to achieve one or multiple goals for the whole system. The efficiency and quality of SCO decision-making procedure is crucial to the sustainability of a company, financially, economically, and socially. However, the sustainability considerations and the unavoidable uncertainties make SCO problems very difficult mathematical optimization problems that can not be well solved using classical formulation and solution approaches. This research is to utilize the recent advances in global optimization of uncertain nonlinear process systems, to develop more efficient and reliable solution strategies for SCO under uncertainty. It involves two projects. The first project is to enhance an existing decomposition-based global optimization method for strategic SCO problems that are mainly concerned with supply chain network design. The second project is to develop new formulations and global optimization methods for integrated strategic and tactical SCO problems, which optimize supply chain design and operational decisions simultaneously. The research will be conducted in collaboration with DuPont Canada. The results of the research cannot only benefit DuPont, but also other companies that want to achieve sustainable supply chain development and operation. The software packages developed in the research can be potentially commercialized, leading to new spin-off companies and more jobs for Canadians. One master's student and one Ph.D. student will be trained through the proposed research, and they will acquire knowledge and skills widely sought by Canada's industries.