A top-down approach and a decision support system for the design and management of logistic networks

This paper presents an original top-down approach, made of original models and solving methods, and a decision support system (DSS) for the execution of the strategic planning, the tactical planning and the operational planning in a multi-echelon multi-stage multi-commodity and multi-period production, distribution and transportation system. The DSS is a software platform useful for the design, management and control of real instances. It can efficiently supports the decision making process of logistic managers and planners of large enterprises as multi-facilities companies and production–distribution networks. A significant case study is illustrated. The results obtained by the application of different problem settings are compared and discussed.

► Original top-down approach for the strategic, tactical and operational planning. ► Original mixed integer programming (MILP) models for strategic planning and operational planning. ► Original heuristic approach for the operational planning and vehicle routing. ► Original decision support system (DSS), a software platform for supporting decisions making process on design, planning and management of a distribution logistic. ► An original case study. The obtained results by the application of the proposed models and platform have been discussed and compared for different problem settings.