Quantitative Analysis of Physical Distribution Networks with Applications

There is a growing interest in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of international distribution networks. This is in particular true in those situations where one is considering the outsourcing of (parts of) the distribution functionto service providers in the areas of warehousing and transportation. But the interest is also caused by the recent and upcoming simplifications in border-crossing traffic within the European Community which make it attractive to reconsider the country-for-country approach, followed by many multinational companies, by concentrating stocks in supra-national distribution centres. This implies that in most situations strategic and tactical decisions have to be made with respect to changing the set up and operation of the distribution function.