Network integration with forward and returning product flows: A case study at Quooker

As connections between customers and suppliers become increasingly complex, the design of transport networks is under growing pressure to achieve efficiency. In response to this challenge, this paper proposes a service network design that takes into account both the forward flows from a production facility to a customer and the returning flows...

Heuristic Methods for Minimum-Cost Pipeline Network Design: A Node Valency Transfer Metaheuristic

Designing low-cost network layouts is an essential step in planning linked infrastructure. For the case of capacitated trees, such as oil or gas pipeline networks, the cost is usually a function of both pipeline diameter (i.e. ability to carry flow or transferred capacity) and pipeline length. Even for the case of incompressible, steady flow,...

Quantifying the required resources for a central sterile supply department using a decomposition method

Optimizing supply chain management in hospitals can lead to a significant reduction in costs. One of the supply chain processes that can be optimized is the sterilization of reusable instruments used during surgical procedures. This process takes place at the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) and consists of two main steps, `washing and...