Evaluating the effects of distribution centres on the performance of vendor-managed inventory systems

This paper evaluates the effects of the distribution centre (DC) in a vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system comprising one manufacturer, one DC and n retailers. Adopting the order-up-to-level (OUL) replenishment policy, the system aims to maximize the overall system profit. We propose a model to evaluate the system performance by considering the scale of the distribution network, influential cost factors, demand distribution, planning horizon, and facility locations. From the viewpoint of a supply chain, we examine the DC's effects on the system in terms of net profit. Our findings reveal that the DC has effects on demand variance and system profit, and there are some dominant factors that affect the overall system performance. The DC may lead to different system performance under a variety of cost factors, and in some situations, the DC may negatively affect system performance. We also suggest some innovative uses of the DC's location to help enhance system performance.