An efficient solution method for the flexible and robust inventory-routing of red blood cells

This paper analyzes Flexible and Robust Inventory-Routing (FRIR) where a blood center distributes the blood type of red blood cell to hospitals under uncertain demand and supply. Flexibility is added through the possibility of transshipment and substitution to avoid shortage. An efficient solution method is proposed and shown to be more effective than existing methods first on benchmark instances then on a case study about Tehran Blood Transfusion Service. The sensitivity analysis on input parameters in four states allowing: both transshipment and substitution; only substitution; only transshipment; and neither substitution nor transshipment, provides the important managerial insights.