Disaster response operations revolve around uncertainties. While uncertainties arising due to randomness can be avoided for post-disaster location problem, those arising because of impreciseness may ...persist long after the disaster's occurrence. Despite the uncertainties and lack of sufficient information about the extent of the damage, disaster response facilities must be established quickly after the occurrence of the disaster. Moreover, the decisions of whether to open, where to locate, and when to open disaster response facilities are based on the amount and quality of information available during the decision-making period. To address these issues, we develop a multi-objective location-allocation model for relief supply and distribution that accounts for the imprecise and time-varying nature of different parameters and time-varying coverage, while also accommodating the subjective attributes necessary to enable establishment and operation of the temporary logistics hubs (TLHs). A credibility-based fuzzy chance-constrained programming model is employed to account for the impreciseness inherent in predicting parameter values during disaster response. The results show where, when, and how many TLHs to open and how to allocate relief supplies. Meanwhile, the sensitivity analysis provides a broader understanding of the impact of limiting the number of TLHs as well as the confidence level and the spread of the symmetric triangular fuzzy numbers on the attainment of the model objectives.
•Disaster response operations are complicated because of uncertain and time-varying nature of parameters.•The uncertainty during disaster response is often epistemic which arises due to impreciseness.•We develop a multi-objective location model for relief supply and distribution.•Our model accounts for the epistemic uncertainty in demand, costs, and available relief.•A credibility-based fuzzy chance-constrained programming model is employed to account for epistemic uncertainty.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reveal the importance of the order of establishment of temporary logistics hubs (TLHs) when resources (mobile storage units used as TLHs) are limited and to ...present the development and implementation of a methodology that determines the order of establishment of TLHs to support post-disaster decision making.
Design/methodology/approach
It employed a decision support system that considers multiple decision makers and subjective attributes, while also addressing the impreciseness inherent in post-disaster decision making for ordering the establishment of TLHs. To do so, an optimization model was combined with a fuzzy multi-attribute group decision making approach. A numerical illustration was performed using data from the April 2015 Nepal Earthquake.
Findings
The results showed the location and order of establishment of TLHs, and demonstrated the impact of decision makers’ opinions on the overall ordering.
Research limitations/implications
The study does not discuss the uncertain nature of the location problem and the potential need for relocation of TLHs.
Practical implications
This methodology offers managerial insights for post-disaster decision making when resources are limited and their effective utilization is vital. The results highlight the importance of considering the opinions of multiple actors/decision makers to enable coordination and avoid complication between the growing numbers of humanitarian responders during disaster response.
Originality/value
This study introduces the concept of the order of establishment of TLHs and demonstrates its importance when resources are limited. It develops and implements a methodology determining the order of establishment of TLHs to support post-disaster decision making.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a mathematical model that determines the location of temporary logistics hubs (TLHs) for disaster response and proposes a new method to determine ...weights of the objectives in a multi-objective optimization problem. The research is motivated by the importance of TLHs and the complexity that surrounds the determination of their location.
Design/methodology/approach
A multi-period multi-objective model with multi-sourcing is developed to determine the location of the TLHs. A fuzzy factor rating system (FFRS) under the group decision-making (GDM) condition is then proposed to determine the weights of the objectives when multiple decision makers exist.
Findings
The interview with decision makers shows the heterogeneity of decision opinions, thus substantiating the importance of GDM. The optimization results provide useful managerial insights for decision makers by considering the trade-off between two non-commensurable objectives.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, decision makers are considered to be homogeneous, which might not be the case in reality. This study does not consider the stochastic nature of relief demand.
Practical implications
The outcomes of this study are valuable to decision makers for relief distribution planning. The proposed FFRS approach reveals the importance of involving multiple decision makers to enhance sense of ownership of established TLHs.
Originality/value
A mathematical model highlighting the importance of multi-sourcing and short operational horizon of TLHs is developed. A new method is proposed and implemented to determine the weights of the objectives. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the multi-actor and multi-objective aspects of the TLH location problem have not thus far been considered simultaneously for one particular problem in humanitarian logistics.
The modern global economy has developed interconnected and complex supply chains largely due to the benefits companies have found in sophisticated trends and strategies; however, these practices are ...not without risk. In the wake of disruptions caused by COVID-19, natural disasters, Brexit, and the US-China trade war, supply chain resilience has become more important than ever. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of recent literature on resilient supply chain network design (RSCND). The focus was on studies that used a quantitative approach. This study utilised a systematic literature review methodology to evaluate the body of literature on RSCND. The main contributions of this paper are as follows: (1) exploring and analysing existing literature on RSCND, particularly focusing on different types of resilience measures used from an analytical modelling perspective; (2) presenting a new way to classify the quantitative resilience measures used for RSCND and clarifying the implications of incorporating it in terms of costs and benefits; and (3) identifying the gaps and limitations of existing literature and proposing a list of potential issues for future research directions. An analysis of the literature shows that existing resilience measures mainly focus on the resilience of the nodes. The benefits of incorporating resilience measures in the RSCND are illustrated quantitatively in terms of monetary value, lost sales, and demand fulfilment. This study is the first attempt to combine studies on the RSCND using quantitative resilience measures. This study can serve as a starting point for understanding the different resilience measures discussed in the literature, how to incorporate them in designing new or redesigning existing supply chain networks, and the benefits associated with their implementation. Although only 21 studies were found in the analysis, we believe that this topic has a huge scope for future research.
The use of warehouse for storing emergency relief items has been proven to improve overall responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of the humanitarian supply chain while decreasing the cost ...incurred in the process. Driven by the same goals, this study determines the optimal number and locations of warehouses to be placed in different parts of Nepal for a humanitarian relief chain that would respond to sudden-onset disasters. The study utilizes a modified version of the maximal covering location problem which introduces additional constraints that reflect the real scenario of Nepal. The problem is solved using simplex algorithm with branch and bound applied to the relaxed integer. The novelty of this study lies in the introduction of indexes for development, disaster safety and transportation accessibility constraints to reflect socioeconomic, geo-climatic and topographical features of Nepal respectively. Three scenarios are chosen based on coverage distance. The results show the number and spatial locations of warehouses for each scenario, as well as their maximum and minimum coverages.
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop a methodology which amalgamates quantitative and qualitative approaches to determine the best placement of mobile logistics hubs (MLH) to be established ...in different parts of Nepal as a part of real-life project, “Augmentation of National and Local-Level Emergency Logistics Preparedness in Nepal” (2017–2020), implemented by the World Food Programme in cooperation with the Government of Nepal.Design/methodology/approachThe study develops a methodology using a combination of a modified version of the maximal covering location problem (MCLP) and focus group discussion. The MCLP model is used to determine the optimal number and spatial location of MLHs, and focus group discussion is used to identify the five first-priority strategic MLH locations using expert knowledge.FindingsThe authors identify the five first-priority locations for establishing MLHs using an amalgamation of quantitative approach (mathematical model) and qualitative approach (focus group discussion). By amalgamating mathematical model with expert knowledge, findings acceptable to a wide range of stakeholders are obtained. The focus group discussion helps to pinpoint the location of MLHs to city-level granularity which is otherwise impossible with data available on hand.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough multiple experts’ judgements were obtained via focus group discussion, subjectivity and possible bias is inevitable. Overall, the quantitative results of the study are purely based on the data available during the study period; therefore, having updated data could possibly improve the quality of the results.Originality/valueThis study is the first of its kind that uses an amalgamation of mathematical model and expert knowledge to determine the strategic locations of MLHs and has been successful to an extent that the selected locations have been vetted by the government of Nepal for establishing MLHs and are undergoing implementation in real life. This study also considers multiple disaster scenarios and employs the concepts of human development, disaster risk and transportation accessibility to reflect Nepal's socioeconomic, geo-climatic and topographical features.
Purpose This study investigates whether logistics and supply chain resilience strategies (SCREST) can help mitigate the negative impacts of disruptions on firm performance and logistics and supply ...chain (SC) activities of companies, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected primary data on the implementation of different types of SCRESTs and measured the impact of COVID-19 in terms of firm performance and logistics and SC metrics through a survey of Japanese manufacturing companies in four sectors. The authors used these data to illustrate whether the companies benefitted from SCRESTs in mitigating the negative impacts of COVID-19. A questionnaire comprising structured and open-ended questions was sent to 8,000 companies all over Japan that met the selection criteria, using a combination of mail and web-based media. The respondents were logistics and SC professionals. A combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed for data analysis and interpretation. Findings Research conducted within the case of the Japanese context revealed that findings varied depending on the methodology applied. The use of a direct analysis approach and qualitative analysis suggested that the implementation of SCRESTs is beneficial in addressing the negative impacts of COVID-19 on firm performance and logistics and SC activities, whereas the application of indirect analysis approach yielded mixed results. The analysis also indicated a shift in the preferred SCRESTs during COVID-19. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the benefits of implementing SCRESTs using primary data from the manufacturing sector of Japan. Furthermore, empirical research on this topic is generally lacking.
Sustainability concerns in supply chain network design have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Although the number of studies in the field is increasing, the number of studies ...accounting for all three components of sustainability are limited. Further, while there is a preconceived notion that sustainable supply chains are desirable, an illustration of their impact in the network configuration is missing. This study develops supply chain network design for three models: the first model focuses on the traditional efficiency based objective, the second model incorporates two components of sustainability, and the third model incorporates all three components of sustainability to determine the optimal configuration of a supply chain network. Finally, numerical analysis is conducted to demonstrate and compare the results of the three models and the impact of integrating sustainability in supply chain network design.
Effective disaster management can help mitigate both human and financial damage. However, the absence of appropriate disaster preparedness and management efforts can increase the vulnerability of ...international tourists to natural disasters. International tourists differ from residents and local tourists in various ways, including limited knowledge of disasters and disaster responses, use of different languages, limited access to signs, and shelter locations and evacuation routes. This study developed an agent-based evacuation model to determine the differences in evacuation behaviors among international tourists, residents, and local tourists during a tsunami. Further, it clarified the impact of both soft and hard countermeasures such as information provision and shelter capacity expansion. Our case study was conducted in the Minato Bay area in Osaka, Japan. The simulation results revealed disparities in the evacuation behaviors between international tourists and residents in the arrival times at shelters. The enhanced sign accessibility and provision of signs in multiple languages significantly reduced the arrival time of international tourists at shelters. Consequently, it is necessary to improve disaster management plans that ensure information provision in multiple languages and the establishment of temporary shelters near tourism spots to support international tourists during disaster evacuation.
•Disparities exist in the evacuation behaviors of international tourists and residents.•International tourists following other evacuees take more time to reach shelters.•Enhanced sign accessibility reduces international tourists' arrival times.•Information provision in multiple languages reduces international tourists' arrival times.
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