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The essays of the cumulative dissertation are concerned with the distribution in retailing with multi-compartment vehicles.
An effective distribution planning is a central aspect for the success of retailers. Due to a highly competitive market, retailers are forced to constantly optimize processes along the supply chain to satisfy the given requirements. On the one hand, customers expect the constant availability of various products while asking for high quality. On the other, an ever increasing pressure on prices exists. The involved logistic processes therefore need to be highly efficient to fulfil the given requirements. An important part plays thereby the distribution of goods to stores, where consumers are supplied. Here, multi-compartment vehicles offer a variety of new possibilities for distribution. The core attribute of multi-compartment vehicles is the simultaneous delivery of different temperature zones with the same vehicle. Besides the new options that therefore open up for distribution, further processes and costs incurred by the use of multi-compartment vehicles need to be taken into account.
The first essay presents the basic attributes of multi-compartment vehicles as well as the differences to processes with single-compartment vehicles. The distribution with both single- and multi-compartment vehicles is illustrated and the differences are discussed. Further, the essay discusses current literature for the distribution with multi-compartment vehicles in retailing. Based on these findings, a formal model for the distribution with multi-compartment vehicles is presented in the second essay. The model considers cost and process differences, especially for loading and unloading actions. The use of multi-compartment vehicles is analysed and saving potentials revealed, using the model and a tailor-made solution approach. The remaining essays (essays 3, 4 and 5) further extend the introduced model to consider additional aspects relevant in practice. More precisely, the third essay considers the optimal fleet mix if both single- and multi-compartment vehicles are available for distribution. The fourth essay identifies loading restrictions if multi-compartment vehicles are used and presents an innovative solution approach to address the arising problem and which enables a distribution planning without loading and unloading problems. Finally, the concluding essay (essay 5) extends the discussed planning problem for multiple periods. In particular, it examines the impact of consistent deliveries for all considered product segments across the complete planning horizon.