Slot allocation with minimum quantity commitment in container liner revenue management: A robust optimization approach
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 14 November 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose robust optimization models addressing the container slot allocation problem with minimum quantity commitment (MQC) under uncertain demand, which is faced by international companies export to USA.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel robust optimization approach handling linear programming (LP) with right-hand-side uncertainty is developed by incorporating new parameters: uncertainty level, infeasibility tolerance and reliability level. Two types of uncertainty, namely, bounded uncertainty and symmetric uncertainty are considered, respectively.
Findings
The present work finds that the expected revenue increases as the uncertainty level and the MQC decrease, as well as the infeasibility tolerance and the reliability level increase, no matter which type of uncertainty is considered.
Research limitations/implications
Typically, the capacity constraints in a container shipping model should include two major restrictions: (1) number of slots and (2) total weight of loaded and empty containers. However, this study only addresses the first restriction for simplicity. It is recommended that future research explore the optimal solutions with additional restriction (2).
Originality/value
This paper fills a theoretical and practical gap for the problem of slot allocation with MQC in container liner revenue management. Deterministic and tractable mixed integer LP is formulated to derive robust solutions which immunes to demand uncertainty. Illustrative examples are presented to test the proposed models. The present work provides practical and solid advice and examples which demonstrates the application of the proposed robust optimization approach for logistics managers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Projects No. 71390335 and 71602089) and the project of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, No. BK20160785.
Citation
Fu, Y., Song, L., Lai, K.K. and Liang, L. (2016), "Slot allocation with minimum quantity commitment in container liner revenue management: A robust optimization approach", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 27 No. 3, pp. 650-667. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-06-2013-0075
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited