Distribution network design in food chains: An application in the Netherlands

Today, increasingly hard-competitive conditions are making necessary businesses development and changes. Companies must deal with their suppliers, wholesalers, retailers in order to be successful in the sector. It?s impossible to work alone in competitive sector conditions. This approach is developed for supply chain management, in the businesses competitors? race, the chain of cooperation among members and providing the success of joint moves through. Meet customer needs while providing the highest level in at least the reduction of costs is possible to ensure the supply chain distribution network design. A distribution network based on scientific methods prevents the loss of businesses and maximizes customer satisfaction. The distribution network of food businesses in the design of studies is barren. However, especially at the food businesses, due to the nature of products, have a lot of wastage and losses; necessitate the existence of a distribution network works perfectly.In this thesis project, supply chain process is analyzed from purchasing raw materials to distributing product to final consumer for a meat products company operated in the Netherlands. Designing and planning of distribution network in the frame of supply chain are formed with linear programming considering variables such as capacity of supplier, facility, distribution center, customer demands, cost of procurement, production and transportation.