A methodology to support decision making across the supply chain of an industrial distributor

This paper presents an integrated methodology to support decision making across the supply chain of an industrial distributor. The methodology is based on a model that simultaneously resolves the two fundamental decisions facing a distributor: assigning suppliers to warehouses and warehouses to customers. In addition, two important aspects of the problem as found in practice are also addressed. First, distributors frequently must simultaneously satisfy several conflicting objectives like minimizing cost and maximizing customer satisfaction so the model is multiobjective. Second, attributes and requirements on the assignments are both qualitative and quantitative in format and the methodology permits this. Finally, an example is also provided to illustrate how the methodology can be used in practice.