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Modeling and improving the logistic distribution network of a hospital
Author(s) -
Madelin Gabriel,
Lahrichi Nadia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international transactions in operational research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.032
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1475-3995
pISSN - 0969-6016
DOI - 10.1111/itor.12697
Subject(s) - computer science , schedule , cart , operations research , logistic distribution , distribution (mathematics) , reduction (mathematics) , variable (mathematics) , consumption (sociology) , mathematical optimization , logistic regression , machine learning , engineering , mathematics , mechanical engineering , social science , geometry , sociology , operating system , mathematical analysis
This paper discusses using simulation and optimization to improve the hospital‐internal distribution network, for example, how to schedule and deliver the goods, which items should go on which cart, how to manage the variable consumption in the units, etc. We use a real case to build a simulation model to test various processes and incorporate an optimization algorithm to find the best distribution routes. The results highlight concrete improvements that could be made. These are the use of the same cart for different types of supplies to reduce the number of routes, the reduction of the distribution frequency for certain care units, and the use of optimized routes to reduce the transportation time.