The Development of the Flexible Periodic Vehicle Routing Problem Model for Gas Cylinders Distribution

Distribution plays a crucial role in business processes, and an efficient distribution system is necessary to minimize costs. Many companies, including those in the gas industry, are developing distribution models to reduce costs and maximize profits. Industrial gases are the main component of various sectors, such as the health industry, consumer goods, and more. Researchers have developed a model of Flexible Periodic Vehicle Routing Problem (FPVRP) for gas cylinder distribution, which considers profitability. The purpose of this model is to maximize profitability by considering storage costs, travel costs, and fixed costs. To achieve this, researchers have developed scheduling and routing methods by combining several models, such as the FPVRP, Inventory Routing Problem (IRP), Vehicle Routing Problem Simultaneous Delivery and Pickup (VRPSDP), and Vehicle Routing Problem with Profits (VRPPs). The model uses various models, such as the Visit Frequency Optimization Procedure (VFOP), which considers visit frequency and day combinations as decision variables, Nearest Neighbor, 2-opt Swap, and Taboo Search. The researchers have used Visual Basic Application (VBA) in Microsoft Excel to develop computerized models. The experiment results have shown that the proposed gas cylinder distribution model can provide maximum profit by reducing the costs of the entire system.