A model for returnable container inventory with restoring strategy using the triangular fuzzy numbers

• Published in: Soft computing (Berlin, Germany) Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 2811 - 2822
• Main Authors: Garg, Harish, Sugapriya, C., Rajeswari, S., Nagarajan, D., Alburaikan, Alhanouf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-02-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algebraic; Analytical Methods in Soft Computing; Artificial Intelligence; Computational Intelligence; Containers; Control; Defective products; Engineering; Expected values; Foundation; Fuzzy logic; Fuzzy sets; Inventory; Inventory management; Leasing; Mathematical Logic and Foundations; Mathematical models; Mechatronics; Optimization techniques; Parameter sensitivity; Parameter uncertainty; Purchase options; Purchasing; Robotics; Sensitivity analysis; Supply chains; Decision-making; Leasing option; Price-dependent demand; Container inventory model; Triangular fuzzy number
• ISSN: 1432-7643; 1433-7479
• DOI: 10.1007/s00500-023-09539-1

Generally, the transportation of cargo plays a vital role in effective supply chain management. For the safe transportation of the goods, the Returnable Containers (RCs) are provided by the container management organization to the consignee as rental basis. Unfortunately, some of the RCs are returned as delay in time for some situations. This study explores a situation of container management organization that unexpected delay of empty containers and then suggests a restoring strategy for shortfall units. As a strategy of restoring the shortfall units, this research considers the leasing option instead of buying the new RCs. This paper examines the container inventory model with the consideration of the delayed return of containers under the fuzzy arena. Because the container's return rate is unpredictable and uncertain, the container inventory model is formulating under fuzzy environment. This research describes a container inventory model with price-sensitive demand. In this model, the container return rate as well as the proportion of repairable from received RCs as Triangular Fuzzy Numbers (TFNs). The optimal duration of inspection of the container and the optimal duration of the lease of an RC are obtained. The expected total cost using the fuzzy return rate and the fuzzy proportion of repairable RCs is computed. The container inventory model under fuzzy arena is proposed to attain the approximate outcome for the unpredictable and uncertain parameters. The impact of the fuzzy proportion of retuned RCs, fuzzy reparable from received RCs, and the changes in some parameters on optimal solutions are performed in the sensitivity analysis.