A reverse logistic inventory model for imperfect production process with preservation technology investment under learning and inflationary environment

This paper presents a unified multi items general inventory model for integrated production of new items and remanufacturing of returned and defected items for a finite planning horizon. In this paper, a production model that takes into account learning, instantaneous deterioration rate and inflation is proposed. In addition, we also consider that the holding cost is a non-negative, non-decreasing and continuous function of time. In this model, the preservation technology is used to reduce the rate of product deterioration. A theory is developed to find the optimal solution of the proposed model; it is then exemplified with the help of several numerical examples. An efficient solution procedure is also provided to find the optimal strategy. Finally, sensitivity of the optimal solution to changes in the values of different parameters of the system and the convexities of the cost functions are also studied and represented through the graphs.