A TURNKEY, MICROCOMPUTER-BASED LOGISTICS PLANNING SYSTEM

We describe a microcomputer-based decision support system for logistics planning. The system uses efficient network algorithms to optimize the flow of freight from vendors, through processing centers, to retail store locations. It comprises three different models for determining inbound sourcing, outbound transshipment points, and the location of a set of market service centers. Despite the large size of some of the networks (over 20,000 links) the package offered surprisingly fast execution times even when solving large facility location problems. Overall, the microcomputer environment (IBM PC-AT) offered significantly greater speed (in terms of total turn-around time), flexibility, and ease of use over the corporate mainframe.