Evolutionary approaches for supply chain optimisation: Part I: single and two-component supply chains

Abstract

PURPOSE – The purpose of this paper and its companion (Part II: multi-silo supply chains) is to investigate methods to tackle complexities, constraints (including time-varying constraints) and other challenges. In tis part, the paper aims to devote attention to single silo and two-silo supply chains. It also aims to discuss three models. The first model is based on the winebottling real-world system and exposes complexities of a single operational component of the supply chain. The second model extends it to two components: production and distribution. The last system is a real-world implementation of the two-component supply chain. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH – Evolutionary approach is proposed for a single component problem. The two-component experimental supply chain is addressed by the algorithm based on cooperative coevolution. The final problem of steel sheet production is tackled with the evolutionary algorithm. FINDINGS – The proposed systems produce solutions better than solutions proposed by human experts and in a much shorter time. ORIGINALITY/VALUE – The paper discusses various algorithms to provide the decision support for the real-world problems. The proposed systems are in the production use.