Optimal consolidation of fresh agricultural products in a multi-temperature joint distribution system

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-01-2017-0021
• Pages: 887-901
• Published date: 13 July 2018
• Date: 13 July 2018
• Author: Mu-Chen Chen,Chung-Cheng Lu,Yi-Ching Liu
• Subject Matter: Logistics,Management science & operations

Optimal consolidation of fresh

agricultural products in a

multi-temperature joint

distribution system

Mu-Chen Chen, Chung-Cheng Lu and Yi-Ching Liu

Department of Transportation and Logistics Management,

National Chiao Tung University,

Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to deal with an optimal consolidation problem for fresh

agricultural products (e.g. fruits and vegetables) in a multi-temperature joint distribution (MTJD)

system that is developed to resolve the challenge of timely delivery of small and diverse shipments in food

cold chains.

Design/methodology/approach –An integer programming optimization model is developed to

consolidate a set of agricultural shipments with different storage requirements into a number of distinct

containers according to the classification criteria. The formulated model for consolidating fresh agricultural

products is evaluated using numerical examples.

Findings –Critical factors thataffect the quality or shelf life of fresh agricultural productsare examined to

form thecriteria for classifying thestorage requirements of theseproducts. The formulated modelcan minimize

the consolidationcost and the loss of product value due to a reduction in shelf life afterconsolidation.

Research limitations/implications –Although the decision model for product consolidation developed in

this paper takes into account practical concerns as much as possible, some additional conditions in the cold

chain of fresh fruits and vegetables can be included to further enhance the application of the proposed

consolidation model.

Practical implications –Provided that the container environment is appropriately controlled, the shelf life

of fresh fruits and vegetables can be maintained during the logistics process. As a result, product quality can

be managed to reduce product loss.

Originality/value –This paper adopts temperature, relative humidity and ethylene production, which

generally affect the quality and shelf life of fresh agricultural products, as the main factors for determining

the product consolidation. It is among the first to deal with the optimal consolidation of fresh agricultural

products in the MTJD system with the consideration of product shelf life.

Keywords Asia, Decision making, Modelling, Shelf life, Consolidation, Food logistics, Cold chain management,

Multi-temperature joint distribution

Paper type Research paper

Nomenclature

Indices

iProduct type; i∈I¼{1, …,n}

jContainer number; j∈J¼{1, …,m}

kGrade of product; k∈K¼{1, …,r}

lGroup number of same products, and

the products in different groups have

different initial shelf lives; l∈L¼{1,

…,p

i

}; n×p

i

⩾m

tTemperature at which products are

placed; t∈T¼{1, …,d}

hRelative humidity level at which

products are placed; h∈H¼{1, …,f}

The International Journal of

Logistics Management

Vol. 29 No. 3, 2018

pp. 887-901

© Emerald PublishingLimited

0957-4093

DOI 10.1108/IJLM-01-2017-0021

Received 28 January 2017

Revised 22 October 2017

16 March 2018

Accepted 25 April 2018

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

www.emeraldinsight.com/0957-4093.htm

This work is partially supported by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, ROC under Grant

No. MOST 103-2221-E-009-135-MY3. This paper forms part of a special section “Next-generation cold

supply chain management: research, applications and challenges”.

887

MTJD system