A multi‐server perishable inventory system with negative customer

A multi‐server perishable inventory system with negative customer

0.00 Avg rating0 Votes
Article ID: iaor20119111
Volume: 61
Issue: 2
Start Page Number: 254
End Page Number: 273
Publication Date: Sep 2011
Journal: Computers & Industrial Engineering
Authors: , , ,
Keywords: markov processes
Abstract:

In this paper, we consider a continuous review perishable inventory system with multi‐server service facility. In such systems the demanded item is delivered to the customer only after performing some service, such as assembly of parts or installation, etc. Compared to many inventory models in which the inventory is depleted at the demand rate, however in this model, it is depleted, at the rate at which the service is completed. We assume that the arrivals of customers are according to a Markovian arrival process (MAP) and that the service time has exponential distribution. The ordering policy is based on (s, S) policy. The lead time is assumed to have exponential distribution. The customer who finds either all servers are busy or no item (excluding those in service) is in the stock, enters into an orbit of infinite size. These orbiting customers send requests at random time points for possible selection of their demands for service. The interval time between two successive request‐time points is assumed to have exponential distribution. In addition to the regular customers, a second flow of negative customers following an independent MAP is also considered so that a negative customer will remove one of the customers from the orbit. The joint probability distribution of the number of busy servers, the inventory level and the number of customers in the orbit is obtained in the steady state. Various measures of stationary system performance are computed and the total expected cost per unit time is calculated. The results are illustrated numerically.

Reviews

Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published.