SUPPLY CHAIN ASSIGNMENT 2

(Kowshik Moyya -19BM6JP50)

1. Frame a mathematical model for humanitarian relief operations, using assumptions

wherever necessary.

Earthquake relief involves various aspects like food distribution, giving aid for people
coming out of debris, providing medical help and supplies like band-aids, stretchers etc.
Hence, to simplify things, the following assumptions were made in mathematical
modelling:

1. Relief is considered in terms of supply of food, medicines etc., that is physical

goods.
2. It is assumed that there is ‘u’ distribution centers that contain relief material and it
is shipped to ‘n’ demand zones in the earthquake-hit area.
3. The locations of these distribution centers and zones are assumed to be already
determined.
4. The weight of each relief item (physical goods) is assumed to be known with
certainty.
5. The relief that is yet to arrive will come to one of the distributions centers.
Now, before going into the modelling aspect, we look at the things that need to be kept in
mind while modelling:

1. The relief has to be quick and the relief vehicles have to reach the distribution center
as quick as possible. So, we have to minimize the total duration of all trips. Docking
time, loading unloading times are also a component of this duration.
2. A penalty is assigned for demand not being met at any demand node. The total penalty
at all the demand nodes need to be minimized.
3. The product availability at the distribution centers must have to be kept in mind.
4. The loading of a vehicle should not exceed the vehicle capacity.
5. Maximum daily work time restrictions associated with a vehicle have to be respected.

Find below the Mathematical Model:

2. How do you estimate the required quantity of relief materials in such a situation?

To estimate the required quantity of relief materials we need to have some preliminary
information about the following:

i. No of people in each of the evacuation centers

ii. Location and no of evacuation centers

iii. Major relief items and categories

iv. Demand of each category

v. No of people coming in the evacuation centers every day

vi. Population of the region affected

vii. Population that can still be rescued to relief centers

viii. Population that have to be dropped food packets from helicopters

ix. Amount of relief materials in stock

x. Amount of relief materials possibly coming in

xi. Capacity of vehicles transporting (from city to relief distribution centers, from
distribution centers to evacuation zones)

If any information is unavailable then guesstimates could be used.

Suppose, we want to calculate the number of the rice packets to be distributed in a flood
affected region. We assume that the population estimated to be living in the flood affected
region is 10 lakhs.

No. of people needs immediate shift to evacuation centers 50%= 500000

Let each family be given 5 Kg of rice in one packet and on an average let us assume there are
4 members in each family.

So, number of families in evacuation centers = 125000

So, number of packets = 125000

So, total quantity of rice required = 625000 Kg

We should also calculate the supply chain risks of bad weather conditions to design our
supply chain and estimates.