Joint Optimization of Distribution Center Location and Inventory for Railway Vehicle Components Using Location-Inventory Models

This paper addresses the joint optimization problem of distribution center location, key component procurement batch size, and safety stock design in the distribution network for high-speed trains and rolling stock maintenance.A location-inventory optimization model is developed and applied to a case study of a Networked Railway Vehicle Manufacturing Enterprise.Simulation results reveal that fixed construction costs significantly influence the distribution network design, emphasizing the need for proactive selection of distribution center locations.Transportation costs are found to be highly positively correlated with the total cost of the distribution network, indicating that reducing unit transportation costs is crucial for optimizing total costs.The findings provide valuable insights for efficient distribution network design in the railway vehicle manufacturing industry.