A modified genetic algorithm for maximizing handling reliability and recyclability of distribution centers

Sai Ho Chung, H. K. Chan, Tung Sun Chan

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nowadays, many 3PL providers usually equip their distribution centers with different facilities, enabling them to be specialized in handling certain products types, and enhancing their ability of reuse and recycle the waste produced from packaging and repackaging. In practice, this problem type has been attracted much attention by researchers and environmental protectionisms. More importantly, because of the difference in product handling specialty, this induces different processing efficiency, handling reliability, and costs. In this connection, the objective of this paper is to propose a modified genetic algorithm to deal with the problem. The new chromosome encoding enhances the searching ability of the genetic algorithm in finding location, allocation, and routing solutions with high handling reliability and recycling ability for the distribution centers. To test the optimization reliability of the modified genetic algorithm, a number of numerical experiments have been carried out. The results demonstrated that the modified algorithm is able to obtain the Pareto solutions under multi-criterion decision making. Meanwhile, the handling reliability and recycling of the distributed centers are increased and the overall performance of the distribution network is improved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7588-7595
Number of pages8
JournalExpert Systems with Applications
Volume40
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Aug 2013

Keywords

  • Distribution centers
  • Genetic algorithm
  • Multi-criterion decision making
  • Repackaging and recycling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Artificial Intelligence

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