Content area
In this paper we present an exact numerical model for the evaluation of a three-echelon supply chain with multiple retailers. Poisson demand, exponentially distributed transportation times and lost sales at the retailers are assumed. The system is modeled as a continuous time Markov chain, and the analysis is based on matrix analytic methods. We analyze the infinitesimal generator matrix of the process and develop an algorithm for its construction. Performance measures for the system are calculated algorithmically from the stationary probabilities vector. The algorithm is used for an extensive numerical investigation of the system so that conclusions of managerial importance may be drawn.
Details
Subject
Integer programming;
Deep learning;
Markov chains;
Random variables;
Optimization;
Decomposition;
Approximation;
Manufacturers;
Order quantity;
Inventory control;
Heuristic;
Suppliers;
Mathematical programming;
Machine learning;
Dynamic programming;
Costs;
Numerical models;
Genetic algorithms;
Wholesalers;
Supply chain management;
Retail stores;
Algorithms;
Linear programming;
Warehouses;
Systematic review;
Inventory;
Supply chains;
Markov analysis
Deep learning;
Markov chains;
Random variables;
Optimization;
Decomposition;
Approximation;
Manufacturers;
Order quantity;
Inventory control;
Heuristic;
Suppliers;
Mathematical programming;
Machine learning;
Dynamic programming;
Costs;
Numerical models;
Genetic algorithms;
Wholesalers;
Supply chain management;
Retail stores;
Algorithms;
Linear programming;
Warehouses;
Systematic review;
Inventory;
Supply chains;
Markov analysis
Business indexing term
Identifier / keyword
Title
Analysis of a Three-Echelon Supply Chain System with Multiple Retailers, Stochastic Demand and Transportation Times
Author
Varlas Georgios 1
; Koukoumialos Stelios 2
; Diamantidis Alexandros 3
; Ioannidis Evangelos 3
1 Department of Business Administration, University of the Aegean, 82100 Chios, Greece; [email protected]
2 Department of Business Administration, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; [email protected]
3 Department of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; [email protected]
; Koukoumialos Stelios 2
; Diamantidis Alexandros 3
; Ioannidis Evangelos 3
1 Department of Business Administration, University of the Aegean, 82100 Chios, Greece; [email protected]
2 Department of Business Administration, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; [email protected]
3 Department of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; [email protected]
Mathematics; Basel
Volume
13
Issue
19
First page
3199
Number of pages
29
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Place of publication
Basel
Country of publication
Switzerland
Publication subject
e-ISSN
22277390
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
Document type
Journal Article
Publication history
Online publication date
2025-10-06
Milestone dates
2025-08-05 (Received); 2025-09-23 (Accepted)
Publication history
First posting date
06 Oct 2025
ProQuest document ID
3261084622
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/analysis-three-echelon-supply-chain-system-with/docview/3261084622/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.
Last updated
2025-10-16
Database
ProQuest One Academic