A Sustainable Distribution Design for Multi-Quality Multiple-Cold-Chain Products: An Integrated Inspection Strategies Approach

Abdul Salam Khan, Bashir Salah, Dominik Zimon, Muhammad Ikram, Razaullah Khan and Catalin I. Pruncu
Additional contact information
Abdul Salam Khan: NUST Business School, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Bashir Salah: Industrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
Dominik Zimon: Department of Management Systems and Logistics, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Razaullah Khan: Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, University of Technology, Nowshera 24100, Pakistan
Catalin I. Pruncu: Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-25

Abstract: Cold-chain products are time-sensitive and perishable and pose the risk of failure if they are transported to a distant location. Thus, there is a need to analyze their quality during distribution so that the customers may receive optimal-quality products. To address this issue, this study integrates inspection strategies with the sustainable distribution system of multi-quality multiple-cold-chain products. A bi-objective model of cost and emission is proposed under the constraints of heterogeneous vehicle and time window. Furthermore, this study intends to address the following questions: which inspection strategy helps to ensure the potency of delivered products, and what is the impact of quality differentiation on the value of objective functions? A set of meta-heuristics is used for implementing the model using a rich panel of experiments. The results reveal that the quality conditions of different products impact the solutions of cost and emissions. Moreover, the conformity strategy is more viable, as it results in less cost and ensures that the quantity of delivered products meets the level of demand. Finally, the study provides implications for managers and practitioners to develop a sustainable distribution system to maintain the quality of cold-chain products.

Keywords: supply chain; perishability; carbon emissions; fuel consumption; sustainable energy systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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