Distribution logistics have been strongly affected by recent economic trends: globalization of markets, deregulation of the European freight traffic, a growing part of just-in-time deliveries and both increased competition and strategic cooperation between all parties involved. The book covers in a systematic way the strategic, tactical and operational planning of distribution systems and processes. It gives an overview of the relevant quantitative models and techniques as well as of applications in industry presented through numerous case studies. Researchers and practitioners will thus equally benefit from this volume.

1: Frameworks for Distribution Logistics

Strategic EuroLogistics Design
A Roadmap for Joint Supply-Chain Improvement Projects Based on Real-Life Cases
Design of Freight Traffic Networks
Strategic Decision Making for Logistics Network Design
Delivery Service: Expectation, Performances and Costs for a Distributor
2: Warehouse Location and Network Design
A Local Search Heuristic for the Two-Stage Capacitated Facility Location Problem
Modelling the Distribution Processes of Tour Operator Catalogues
Obtaining Sharp Lower and Upper Bounds for Two-Stage Capacitated Facility Location Problems
Parametric Analysis of Fixed Costs in Uncapacitated Facility Location
Strategic Logistic Planning by Means of Simple Plant Location: A Case Study
Local Search Heuristics for the Design of Freight Carrier Networks
3: Transport Planning and Scheduling
The Minimization of the Logistic Costs on Sequences of Links with Given Shipping Frequencies
Using Break Quantities for Tactical Optimisation in Multi-Stage Distribution Systems
Estimating the Length of Trunk Tours for Environmental and Cost Evaluation of Distribution Systems
Vehicle Routing and Scheduling for Trunk Haulage
4: Operations within the Warehouse
When to Apply Optimal or Heuristic Routing of Orderpickers
Centralized versus Decentralized Control of Internal Transport, a Case Study
5: Inventory Control and Forecasting
Transshipments in a Divergent 2-Echelon System
Reverse Logistics and Inventory Control with Product Remanufacturing
Forecasting Techniques in Logistics
Inventory Positioning in a Two-Stage Distribution System with Service Level Constraints
List of Contributors.