Decision support framework for facility location and demand planning for humanitarian logistics

Jean-Claude Baraka Munyaka () and Venkata Seshachala Sarma Yadavalli ()
Additional contact information
Jean-Claude Baraka Munyaka: University of Pretoria
Venkata Seshachala Sarma Yadavalli: University of Pretoria

International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, No 2, 9-28

Abstract: Abstract This research purpose is to develop a decision-making mechanism capable of enhancing SADC effectiveness and efficiency during regional relief operations. The research was conducted in three phases: phase 1 with the aim of exploring SADC relief supply operations readiness, their available infrastructures as well as the existing coordination between relief agencies and other relevant parties. Phase 2 aims at enhancing the efficiency and the effectiveness of the SADC regional decision-making mechanism during relief operations. Phase 3 finally optimizes the pre-positioned relief supplies and demands in facility locations across SADC by dealing with two key decision factors affecting the region namely the time and the cost. Using a Multi-Criteria decision Making (MCDM) based on its Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach, the results, under certain assumptions, yielded an insignificant cost-saving between air transportation and marine transportation. However, applying the decision-making scenarios in an Excel linear optimization model, the study has revealed that by increasing the number of cities or countries involved in a particular humanitarian operation, decreases the overall logistical costs including transportation, prepositioned storage, etc. The proposed methodology provides a detailed decision support framework for humanitarian organizations operating in the region. The model adds important value to the literature as the proposed problem has no solution in the literature before.

Keywords: Humanitarian logistics; Disaster relief operations; Multi-criteria decision making; Lean manufacturing; Analytic hierarchy process (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13198-020-01037-z Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:ijsaem:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s13198-020-01037-z

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/engineering/journal/13198

DOI: 10.1007/s13198-020-01037-z

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management is currently edited by P.K. Kapur, A.K. Verma and U. Kumar

More articles in International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management from Springer, The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().