Design of Distribution Chain

In today s buyers' market, the enterprises that are§able to win the market will win the competition. §That is why the study on distribution chain is §attracting extensive attentions from academics §and industry. In this book, an integrated §methodology is developed to design a distribution §chain. A distribution chain will be designed in three§phases. In the pre-design phase, all possible§distributors are evaluated quantitatively, and a set§of eligible distributors are selected to design a§distribution chain. In the design phase, a set of§models are developed to design a distribution chain.§The main design results include: configuration of the§distribution chain (including number and §location of distributors), inventory control §parameters at each node, and product delivery routes §between different nodes. In the post-design §phase, to verify the design results, the §distribution chain designed above is simulated, and §its performance is evaluated. This book should be §especially useful to managers, practitioners, §researchers, and consultants who are concerned with §distribution chain (or supply chain) planning, §operation and performance evaluation.