A mixed integer programming model for multi-product dynamic integrated forward/reverse logistics systems

IV A MIXED INTEGER PROGRAMMING MODEL FOR MULTI-PRODUCT DYNAMIC INTEGRATED FORWARD / REVERSE LOGISTICS SYSTEMS (M.Sc. Thesis) Uygar ŞARVAN GAZI UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY July 2005 ABSTRACT According to the widely spread belief of some experts, the competition between the companies of the future will neither be between the goods that they manufacture nor the countries in which these goods are consumed but between the supply chains that they use. The importance of the information sharing in supply chain is being discussed at present, but also the concepts of production- distribution planning and logistics should not be ignored. As the companies realized the importance of these subjects in recent years, they started to give further emphasis to and invest more in these fields. It is observed that the studies mainly investigate the concepts of forward distribution and forward logistics. However, it is known that the emphasis on the subjects of recycling and reuse has increased in recent years. As a result, environmental protection, working towards minimising the use of resources, lawful legislation and the studies on the concepts of reverse logistics and reverse distribution have also increased. However, there is a lack of studies and papers on the integration of forward and reverse distribution. In this dissertation, a system comprising of both forward and reverse distribution simultaneously is studied and a multi- product, multi-period mixed integer model is developed and tested. Science Code : 919 KeyWords : Forward and reverse distribution, reverse logistics, mixed integer programming Page Number: 115 Adviser : Prof. Dr. Serpil EROL