A multi-objective approach based on Rank Ant System to configure logistics networks

In this paper, we introduce the use of an Ant System called Rank-based Ant System (AS_RB) to solve the problem of configuring the Supply Chain (SC), when the Production Cost (PC) and the Lead Time (LT) are minimised simultaneously. The SC is modelled as a graph in which nodes represent supply, manufacturing, and delivery stages. Each stage could be performed by more than two options. Thus the problem is to select the options that can minimise the PC and LT at the same time, given that a reduction in time increases the cost and vice versa. We developed an algorithm to solve the SC configuration problem based on the (AS_RB) in which ants, of different colonies, travel throughout the graph to configure the SC. Our algorithm is tested using a standard problem reported in the literature and we provide some metric of its performance.