Closed-loop Supply Chain Network Design Optimization Approach under Periodic Demand

The purpose of this paper is to formulate a closed-loop supply chain network (CSCN) design problem in which the objective is to minimize the sum of the fixed opening, transportation, and inventory costs. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed for the market to market CSCN design problem. Different constraints such as facility capacities, inventory holding capacities, and flow balance with regard to periodic demand, are considered. In other words, the paper explore the possibility of managing product returns in a more cost-effcient and timely manner. The developed MILP model can be used to compute the optimal solution for the small-sized problems