Inventory Relief Chain Model with Deterioration and Disposal of Relief Commodity

Abstract

In this uncertain environment, disaster may happen at any point in time or physical location that may be of the kind earthquake, flood, tornadoes, hurricanes, among others. If any disaster happens, organizations (private or government) start to provide facilities as evacuation and supply of relief commodities in the affected regions. This paper formulates an inventory-relief-chain (IRC) model with the relief supply chain for the distribution of the relief commodity. The results of the model provide the optimal number of intermediate distribution centers and relief centers. However, in the study, every relief center is considered to distribute the relief commodity because in disaster conditions every relief center is inescapable. The model is formulated with a core objective to optimize the total cost of the relief operation. An algorithm is proposed to nd the optimal solution of the proposed model. Furthermore, a numerical analysis is carried
out with a numerical example to validate the efficiency of the algorithm. The sensitivity analysis is done over the optimal solution and the respective parameters of the model. The sensitivity analysis represents the strength of the model, to what extent these parameters are sensitive to the objective. The model assists relief organizations in managing relief supplies for disaster responses.