Facility Management of Distribution Centres for Vegetables and Fruits

  • Rob A. C. M. Broekmeulen

Abstract

We present a hierarchical algorithm to solve the facility management problem in a distribution centre for vegetables and fruits. The facility management problem is formulated as a multi criteria decision model. The hierarchical algorithm consists of two stages: determination of cluster properties and product group assignment to clusters. Cluster properties such as capacity and temperature of the cold store are determined with a genetic algorithm. For the assignment of clusters to product groups we linearized the multi criteria decision problem. The resulting linear assignment problem was solved with the simplex method. This solution strategy was applied to a distribution centre in the Netherlands to demonstrate that the suggested approach works for real life problems.

Keywords

Decision support system genetic algorithm distribution centres vegetables and fruits 

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Browne, J.; Harhen, J.; Shivnan, J. (1988): Production Management Systems. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 259 – 265Google Scholar
  2. Chung, H.K.; Norback, J.P. (1991): A clustering and insertion heuristic applied to a large routing problem in food distribution. Journal of the Operations Research Society 42 (7): 555 – 564Google Scholar
  3. Goldberg, D.E. (1989): Genetic Algorithms in Search, Optimization and Machine Learning 1. Addison-Wesley, Reading MAGoogle Scholar
  4. Gray, A.E.; Karmarkar, U.S.; Seidmann, A. (1992): Design and operation of an order-consolidation warehouse: Models and application. European Journal of Operations Research 58: 14 – 36CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Hoogerwerf, A; Reinders, MP; Oosterloo, SK, Kanis, J (1990): Eindrapport van de programmeringsstudie agrologistiek. ATO/NEHEM, Technical report, Wageningen, (in Dutch )Google Scholar
  6. Kopec, K.. (1983): Effect of storage condition on harvested vegetables and their mathematical simulation. Acta Horticulturae 138: 343 – 354Google Scholar
  7. Petropakis, H.J. (1989): Transport of chilled agricultural products. In: Zeuthen, P.; Cheftel, J.C.; Eriksson, C.; Gormley, T.R.; Linko, P.; Paulus, K. (eds.): Chilled Foods: the revolution in freshness), COST 91, London, Elsevier Applied Science, 234 – 243Google Scholar
  8. Tijskens, L.M.M.; Polderdijk, J.J. (1995): Keeping quality of vegetable produce during storage and distribution. Agricultural Systems, (submitted )Google Scholar
  9. Woltering, E.J.; Harkema, H. (1987): Effect of exposure time and temperature on response of carnation cut flowers to ethylene. Acta Horticulturae 216: 255 – 262Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York 1995

Authors and Affiliations

  • Rob A. C. M. Broekmeulen
    • 1
  1. 1.ATO-DLOWageningenThe Netherlands

Personalised recommendations