Analysis of a decentralized supply chain under partial cooperation

Date
2005
Authors
Güllü, R.
Van Houtum G. J.
Sargut F. Z.
Erkip, N.
Advisor
Instructor
Source Title
Manufacturing and Service Operations Management
Print ISSN
1523-4614
Electronic ISSN
Publisher
Volume
7
Issue
3
Pages
229 - 247
Language
English
Type
Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract

In this article, we analyze a decentralized supply chain consisting of a supplier and two independent retailers. In each order cycle, retailers place their orders at the supplier to minimize inventory-related expected costs at the end of their respective response times. There are two types of lead times involved. At the end of the supplier lead time, retailers are given an opportunity to readjust their initial orders (without changing the total order size), so that both retailers can improve their expected costs at the end of respective retailer lead times (the time it takes for items to be shipped from the supplier to the retailers). Because of the possibility of cooperation at the end of supplier lead time, each retailer will consider the other's order-up-to level in making the ordering decision. Under mild conditions, we prove the existence of a unique Nash equilibrium for the retailer order-up-to levels, and show that they can be obtained by solving a set of newsboy-like equations. We also present computational analysis that provides valuable managerial insight for design and operation of decentralized systems under the possibility of partial cooperation.

Course
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Book Title
Keywords
Multiperiod decentralized inventory, Nash equilibrium, Partial cooperation, Transshipment, Multiperiod decentralized inventory, Nash equilibrium, Partial cooperation, Transshipment, Costs, Customer satisfaction, Decentralized control, Decision making, Freight transportation, Inventory control, Industrial management
Citation
Published Version (Please cite this version)