On the determination of the control parameters of the optimal can-order policy

This paper considers the well-known class of can-order policies. This type of coordinated replenishment policies accounts for a joint set-up cost structure, where a major set-up cost is incurred for any order and an individual minor set-up cost is charged for each item in the replenishment. Recent comparative studies have pointed out that the performance of the optimal can-order policy is poor, compared to other coordinated replenishment strategies, when the major set-up cost is high. This paper shows that it is the approximate decomposition method to calculate the optimal can-order parameters which performs bad in such situations and not the policy itself. Attention is focused to a subclass of can-order policies, which is close to the optimal can-order policy for high major set-up costs. A solution procedure is developed to calculate the optimal control parameters of this policy. It is shown that a properly chosen combination of the solution procedures to calculate can-order parameters leads to a can-order strategy which performs as well as other coordinated replenishment policies.