Application of the joint replenishment problem in a collaborative inventory approach to define resupply plans in urban goods distribution contexts

Abstract

This article presents an application of the joint replenishment problem (JRP) as the basis for proposing a collaborative inventory model with joint orders, in which multiple customers share the required information to define their supply plans. This information is consolidated by the supplier and it is responsible for carrying out the collaborative joint replenishment process. The application of the model allows generating a replenishment process that reduces costs compared to carrying out the individual plans for each customers and also generates a reduction in the number of trips required, which is a positive contribution to urban goods distribution processes.