Novel multi-objective resource allocation and activity scheduling for fourth party logistics

• A general multi-objective scheduling model is proposed.
• The model included joint cost and time.
• The model considered time window and due date constraints.
• An improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is presented.
• Logistics market in Wuhan is used as a case study.
• The research can also be used in 4PLs, 3PLs and manufacturing companies.

In order to reduce logistic costs, the scheduling of logistic tasks and resources for fourth party logistics (4PL) is studied. Current scheduling models only consider costs and finish times of each logistic resource or task. Not generally considered are the joint cost and time between two adjacent activities for a resource to process and two sequential activities of a task for two different resources to process are ignored. Therefore, a multi-objective scheduling model aiming at minimizing total operation costs, finishing time and tardiness of all logistic tasks in a 4PL is proposed. Not only are the joint cost and time of logistic activities between two adjacent activities and two sequential activities included but the constraints of resource time windows and due date of tasks are also considered. An improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is presented to solve the model. The validity of the proposed model and algorithm are verified by a corresponding case study.