Optimizing Inventory Routing: A Decision-Focused Learning Approach using Neural Networks

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Islam, MD Shafikul, Wasi, Azmine Toushik
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Islam, MD Shafikul
Wasi, Azmine Toushik
author_facet Islam, MD Shafikul
Wasi, Azmine Toushik
contents Inventory Routing Problem (IRP) is a crucial challenge in supply chain management as it involves optimizing efficient route selection while considering the uncertainty of inventory demand planning. To solve IRPs, usually a two-stage approach is employed, where demand is predicted using machine learning techniques first, and then an optimization algorithm is used to minimize routing costs. Our experiment shows machine learning models fall short of achieving perfect accuracy because inventory levels are influenced by the dynamic business environment, which, in turn, affects the optimization problem in the next stage, resulting in sub-optimal decisions. In this paper, we formulate and propose a decision-focused learning-based approach to solving real-world IRPs. This approach directly integrates inventory prediction and routing optimization within an end-to-end system potentially ensuring a robust supply chain strategy.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2311_00983
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Optimizing Inventory Routing: A Decision-Focused Learning Approach using Neural Networks
Islam, MD Shafikul
Wasi, Azmine Toushik
Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Systems and Control
Optimization and Control
Inventory Routing Problem (IRP) is a crucial challenge in supply chain management as it involves optimizing efficient route selection while considering the uncertainty of inventory demand planning. To solve IRPs, usually a two-stage approach is employed, where demand is predicted using machine learning techniques first, and then an optimization algorithm is used to minimize routing costs. Our experiment shows machine learning models fall short of achieving perfect accuracy because inventory levels are influenced by the dynamic business environment, which, in turn, affects the optimization problem in the next stage, resulting in sub-optimal decisions. In this paper, we formulate and propose a decision-focused learning-based approach to solving real-world IRPs. This approach directly integrates inventory prediction and routing optimization within an end-to-end system potentially ensuring a robust supply chain strategy.
title Optimizing Inventory Routing: A Decision-Focused Learning Approach using Neural Networks
topic Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Systems and Control
Optimization and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.00983