A prepositioning model for prioritized demand points considering lateral transshipment

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to examine the integration of lateral transshipment and road vulnerability into the humanitarian relief chain in light of affected area priority to address equitable distribution and assess the impact of various parameters on the total average inflated distance traveled per relief item. Design/methodology/approach After identifying comprehensive critical criteria and subcriteria, a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making framework was applied to obtain the demand points’ weight and ranking in a real-life earthquake scenario. Direct shipment and lateral transshipment models were then presented and compared. The developed mathematical models are formulated as mixed-integer programming models, considering facility location, inventory prepositioning, road vulnerability and quantity of lateral transshipment. Findings The study found that the use of prioritization criteria and subcriteria, in conjunction with lateral transshipment and road vulnerability, resulted in a more equitable distribution of relief items by reducing the total average inflated distance traveled per relief item. Research limitations/implications To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first research on equity in humanitarian response through prioritization of demand points. It also bridges the gap between two areas that are typically treated separately: multi-criteria decision-making and humanitarian logistics. Practical implications This is the first scholarly work in Shiraz focused on the equitable distribution system by prioritization of demand points and assigning relief items to them after the occurrence of a medium-scale earthquake scenario considering lateral transshipment in the upper echelon. Originality/value The paper clarifies how to prioritize demand points to promote equity in humanitarian logistics when the authors have faced multiple factors (i.e. location of relief distribution centers, inventory level, distance, lateral transshipment and road vulnerability) simultaneously.

Humanitarian Logistics Prioritization Models: A Systematic Literature Review

“…The Multi-criteria Optimization and Compromise Solution (VIKOR) aims to find a compromise solution closest to the ideal, considering conflicting criteria [67]. VIKOR has been utilized in various contexts, including prioritizing emergency facility locations (e.g., [55]), selecting reconstruction projects (e.g., [37]), determining hospital locations (e.g., [41]), and identifying demand points (e.g., [46]).…”

“…Outranking Process Analysis (OPA) is an approach used for decision-making that is based on identifying dominance relationships between alternatives, allowing the establishment of a preference order without requiring a precise numerical evaluation [46]. This method was used by [46] to prioritize demand points after a disaster.…”

“…In this regard, the authors of ref. [46] propose lateral transshipment as a solution for dealing with surpluses at demand points. Furthermore, proper inventory control plays a key role in ensuring the continuous availability of essential supplies.…”