An Improved Genetic Algorithm for Allocation Optimization of Distribution Centers

This paper introduced an integrated allocation model for distribution centers (DCs). The facility cost, inventory cost, transportation cost and service quality were considered in the model. An improved genetic algorithm (IGA) was proposed to solve the problem. The improvement of IGA is based on the idea of adjusting crossover probability and mutation probability. The IGA is supplied by heuristic rules too. The simulation results show that the IGA is better than the standard GA(SGA) in search efficiency and equality.

Location optimization of multiple distribution centers under fuzzy environment

Locating distribution centers optimally is a crucial and systematic task for decision-makers.Optimally located distribution centers can significantly improve the logistics system's efficiency and reduce its operational costs.However,it is not an easy task to optimize distribution center locations and previous studies focused primarily on location optimization of a single distribution center.With growing logistics demands,multiple distribution centers become necessary to meet customers' requirements,but few studies have tackled the multiple distribution center locations(MDCLs) problem.This paper presents a comprehensive algorithm to address the MDCLs problem.Fuzzy integration and clustering approach using the improved axiomatic fuzzy set(AFS) theory is developed for location clustering based on multiple hierarchical evaluation criteria.Then,technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS) is applied for evaluating and selecting the best candidate for each cluster.Sensitivity analysis is also conducted to assess the influence of each criterion in the location planning decision procedure.Results from a case study in Guiyang,China,reveals that the proposed approach developed in this study outperforms other similar algorithms for MDCLs selection.This new method may easily be extended to address location planning of other types of facilities,including hospitals,fire stations and schools.

Symbol RFID Technology to be Deployed at United States Defense Logistics Agency's Distribution Centers Worldwide

Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company, today announced that it had been selected by ODIN technologies, the leader in the physics of RFID testing, software and deployment, to support its recent contract win with the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the United States Department of Defense’s (DoD) logistics combat support agency that provides supplies and services to America’s military forces worldwide.

DEPENDENCE OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ACTIVE CENTERS ON MONOMER IN SUPPORTED ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYSTS

Distribution of active centers(ACD)of ethylene or 1-hexene homopolymerization and ethylene-1-hexene copolymerization with a MgCl_2/TiCl_4 type Z-N catalyst were studied by deconvolution of the polymer molecular weight distribution into multiple Flory components.Each Flory component is thought to be formed by a certain type of active center. ACD of ethylene-1-hexene copolymer with very low 1-hexene incorporation was compared with that of ethylene homopolymer to see the effect of introducingα-olefin on ethyle...

EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL DONOR ON ACTIVE CENTER DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPORTED ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYST

The composition distribution (CD) and microisotacticity distribution (ID) of propene/1-hexene copolymer synthesized by MgCl2/DIBP/TiCl4 (DIBP: diisobutyl phthalate) were determined by fractionating the copolymers according to crystallinity and characterizing the fractions by (CNMR)-C-13. The effects of two alkoxysilane donors, triethoxyphenylsilane (PTES) and dimethoxydi-tert-butylsilane (TBMS), on CD and ID of the copolymers were compared. Three main parts in the CD diagram of each copolymer were distinguished, which were correlated to active center distribution (ACD) based on three groups of different active centers. By studying the changes in l-hexene content, microisotacticity and reactivity ratio product of three typical fractions, the effects of external donor on ACD were better elucidated. It was found that TBMS shows much stronger effects on ACD than PTES. In the former system, most fractions were produced on active centers with relatively lower r(1)r(2), higher reactivity to I-hexene, and higher stereospecificity as compared to the system without external donor. It is concluded that the observed very extensive changes in ACD are mainly resulted by the formation of new types of active centers, possibly by coordination of external donor to certain positions on the catalyst.

Study on Location of Wuhan Steel Logistics Distribution Center

This paper studies the location of Wuhan steel logistics distribution center. First of all, according to Wuhan Iron and Steel Plant sales in Hunan Province and the relative position of the city, the transport costs are calculated from Wuhan Iron and Steel Plant to the demand point. We further analyze the necessity of establishing steel logistics distribution center, using the precise center of gravity to determine the actual location of the distribution center. After the establishment of distribution center, the total freight is reduced by 15.46 million yuan from Wuhan Iron and Steel Plant to each city in Hunan province via distribution center each year. The results of this paper can provide theoretical basis for the logistics node planning of related enterprises.

On Deciding Sustainable Distribution Center of a Supply Chain

A supply chain is a network that performs the procurement of raw material, the transportation of raw material to intermediate and end products, and the distribution of end products to retailers or customers. Installation and operation of distribution centers and all downstream members play a vital role in fulfilling the customers demand and have a great impact for supply chain management performance. In this paper we address a new approach for solving a supply chain optimization model to decide distribution centers based on environmental consideration.

Decision Support for DCs Location and Distribute Range Planning: Case Study in Asia-Pacific Region

A major concern is to locate manufacturing plants and/or distribution centers to serve the needs of consumers widely and rapidly with reasonably distributive cost and flexible delivery time. The purpose of this research is to help enhance a decision support for three distribution center locations with different ranges of area in order that the distributors are able to serve appropriately the retailers in twelve large cities or capitals of the nine countries in Asia-Pacific region. The researcher applies the theory of supply chain and logistics management systems with Excel, Visual Basic and Genetic Algorithms programs to find the research results. The research results revealed that the interfaces of Excel, Visual Basic, and Genetic Algorithms programs helped decision support in distribution range selection for 3 distribution center locations. Each of which had different ranges of area for distribution with a rapidly, flexibly distributed time. However, variables resulting in a decision-making should be adjusted under certain circumstances for more reliable, specific needs.

Analysis of sand particles’ lift-off and incident velocities in wind-blown sand flux

In the research of windblown sand movement,the lift-off and incident velocities of saltating sand particles play a significant role in bridging the spatial and temporal scales from single sand particle＇s motion to windblown sand flux.In this paper,we achieved wind tunnel measurements of the movement of sand particles near sand bed through improving the wind tunnel experimental scheme of paticle image velocimetry（PIV） and data processing method.And then the influence of observation height on the probability distributions of lift-off and incident velocities of sand particles was analyzed.The results demonstrate that the observation height has no obvious influence on the distribution pattern of the lift-off and incident velocities of sand particles,i.e.,the probability distribution of horizontal and vertical velocities of lift-off and incident sand particles follow a Gaussian distribution and a negative exponential distribution,respectively.However,it influences the center of the Gaussian distribution,the decay constant and the amplitude of the negative exponential distribution.

Distribution Control Centers in the US and Europe:Commonalities,Differences,and Lessons

The distribution control center(DCC)has evolved from a sideshow in the traditional distribution service center to a major centerpiece of the utility moving into the decentralized world.Mostly,this is the place where much of the action is happening due to new forms of energy that are coining into the distribution system.This creates the flexibility of operation and in-creased complexity due to the need for increased coordination between the transmission control center and DCC.However,the US and European utilities have adapted to this change in very different ways.Firstly,we describe the research works done in a DCC and their evolutions from the perspectives of major US utilities,and those enhanced by the European perspective focusing on the coordination of distribution system operator and transmission system operator(DSO-TSO).We pres-ent the insights into the systems used in these control centers and the role of vendors in their evolution.Throughout this paper,we present the perspectives of challenges,operational capabilities,and the involvement of various parties who will be re-sponsible to make the transition successful.Key differences are pointed out on how distribution operations are conducted between the US and Europe.

Research on the Mode of Efficaciously Solving “Agricultural Super-Docking” Development Difficulties in China

Constructing circulation mode of high feasibility and good implementation effect is the key method to solve difficulties in the development of “Agricultural Super-Docking” at present in China. There are many problems that exist in the process of the development of “Agricultural Super-Docking” by our analyzing from both the benefit of subjects and the whole supply chain perspectives. A large amount of relevant literature research shows that adopting the “cooperation between the government and the third party logistics enterprises to build distribution center” innovation model can solve these problems. This model can effectively remove obstacles between farmers and supermarkets. It is conducive to the development of small and medium-scale the farmer cooperatives, supermarkets and the third party logistics enterprises that don’t have a strong financial strength and a high degree of brand influence. In addition, it can also produce considerable social benefits. In order to ensure the implementation efficiency of the model to maximize, some management issues in the implementation process about the determination of core subject in supply chain, the method of evaluating the third party logistics enterprises grade, the planning of the number of customers for the distribution center, the mechanism of income distribution among multiple subjects and the implementation of relevant policies after the model into practice should be taken into account.

Research on the key technology of RFID and its application in modem logistics

The paper study communication protocol, the structure of the circuit, antenna design of radio frequency identification technology （RFID）, and puts forward a scheme based on IOT application： RFID logistics tracking system. Finally, the paper study the logistics distribution center information management model from three aspects of the system design objectives, system function analysis and system architecture design based on RFID.

Selection of logistics distribution center location for SDN enterprises

The location selection of the logistics distribution center for a supply and demand network(SDN)enterprises directly affected the efficiency of the logistics system operation and the customer service level.In this paper,we present a location selection model of the logistics distribution center for SDN enterprises.In order to improve the optimization effectiveness of the traditional methods in solving the location selection problem,an improved firefly algorithm was presented.By introducing a coordination factor,the search step can be automatically adjusted,and the accuracy of the algorithm can be improved.By introducing a chaotic search strategy,the diversity of firefly populations and the global optimization ability of the algorithm can be improved.The simulation experiments showed that the improved firefly algorithm achieved a more favorable effectiveness than three other algorithms we tested.

COPOLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE AND 1-HEXENE WITH TiCl_4/MgCl_2 CATALYSTS MODIFIED BY 2,6-DIISOPROPYLPHENOL

A supported TiCl4/MgCl2 catalyst without internal electron donor （O-cat） was prepared firstly. Then it was modified by 2,6-diisopropylphenol to make a novel modified catalyst （M-cat）. These two catalysts were used to catalyze ethylene/l-hexene copolymerization and l-hexene homopolymerization. The influence of cocatalyst and hydrogen on the catalytic behavior of these two catalysts was investigated. In ethylene/l-hexene copolymerization, the introduction of 2,6- iPr2C6H3O- groups did not deactivate the supported TiCl4/MgCl2 catalyst. Although the 1-hexene incorporation in ethylene/1- hexene copolymer prepared by M-cat was lower than that prepared by O-cat, the composition distribution of the former was narrower than that of the latter. Methylaluminoxane （MAO） was a more effective activator for M-cat than triisobutyl- aluminium （TIBA）. MAO led to higher yield and more uniform chain structure. In 1-hexene homopolymerization, the presence of 2,6-ipr2C6H3O- groups lowered the propagation rate constants. Two types of active centers with a chemically bonded 2,6-iprzCaH3O- group were proposed to explain the observed phenomena in M-cat.