Computer Implemented System for Determining a Distribution Policy for a Single Period Inventory System, Optimization Application Therefor, and Method Therefor, and Decision Support Tool for Facilitating User Determination of a Distribution Policy for a Single Period Inventory System

Abstract

Computer implemented system for determining a distribution policy for a single period inventory system on the basis of the relative merit of allocating a draw unit of one of a multitude of different consumer items to one of a multitude of different locations in accordance with an allocation decision criterion subject to one or more constraints, an optimization application therefor, and method therefor, and including a Decision Support Tool for facilitating user determination of a distribution policy for a single period inventory system.

1 . A computer implemented Decision Support Tool (DST) for facilitating user determination of a distribution policy for a single period inventory system, wherein: 
 the DST is operable to receive the mean demands of a consumer item at the locations of the single period inventory system;    the DST is operable to calculate the expected percentages of a parameter associated with the occurrences of sellout at the locations of the single period inventory system for a multitude of expected returns percentages (% ER), or vice versa; and    the DST is operable to output the multitude of expected returns percentages (% ER) against their corresponding expected percentages of the parameter, or vice versa.    
   
   
       2 . The DST according to  claim 1  wherein the parameter is the expected number of sellouts of the consumer item at all n locations of the single period inventory system, and the weighted composite allocation decision criterion is given by: 
 w 1 (% ER(λ,D)−% ER(λ,D 0 ))+w 2  (% ESO(λ,D 0 )−% ESO(λ,D)) where w 1 , and w 2  are weights, and D 0  is an initial draw vector.    
   
   
       3 . The DST according to  claim 2  wherein D 0 =λ).  
   
   
       4 . The DST according to  claim 1  wherein the parameter is the expected stockout of the consumer item at all n locations of the single period inventory system and the weighted composite allocation decision criterion is given by: 
 w 1 (% ER(λ,D)−% ER(λ,D 0 ))+w 2 (% EST(−λ,D 0 )−% EST(λ,D)) where w 1  and w 2  are weights, and D 0  is an initial draw vector.    
   
   
       5 . The DST according to  claim 4  wherein D 0 =λ.  
   
   
       6 . The DST according to  claim 1  wherein the consumer item is a printed media publication.  
   
   
       7 . Computer implemented method for facilitating user determination of a distribution policy for a single period inventory system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) calculating the corresponding expected percentages of a parameter associated with the occurrences of sellout at the locations of the single period inventory system for a multitude of expected returns percentages (% ER), or vice versa; and    (b) displaying the multitude of expected returns percentages (% ER) against their corresponding expected percentages of the parameter, or vice versa.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the parameter is the expected number of sellouts of the consumer item at all n locations of the single period inventory system, and the weighted composite allocation decision criterion is given by: 
 w 1 (% ER(λ,D)−% ER(λ,D 0 ))+w 2  (% ESO(λ,D 0 )−% ESO(λ,D)) where w 1  and w 2  are weights, and D 0  is an initial draw vector.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein D 0 =λ.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the parameter is the expected stockout of the consumer item at all n locations of the single period inventory system and the weighted composite allocation criterion is given by: 
 w 1 (% ER(λ,D)−% ER(λ,D 0 ))+w 2  (% EST(λ,D 0 )−% EST(λ,D)) where w 1  and w 2  are weights, and D 0  is an initial draw vector.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein D 0 =λ.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the consumer item is a printed media publication.