A humanitarian supply chain that minimizes human suffering incorporating material convergence and sourcing through media

• Main Authors: Afable, F Martin B., Angeles, Arvin Mori A., Lim, Bryant Casey M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2011
• Subjects: Humanitarian assistance; Disaster relief; Emergency management; Suffering > Social aspects.; Industrial Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10812
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study explores the modeling of a humanitarian supply chain that is designed for post-disaster scenarios. Various supply chain models and literatures have been reviewed and from this it was understood that the main objectives of humanitarian supply chains is to minimize suffering and not to minimize the cost. Cost minimization is not enough because costs cannot be used as a metric for human lives. Material convergence was also included in the model. Literatures have stated the existence of material convergence and the purpose of media in humanitarian supply chains. The introduction of these unique characteristics humanitarian supply chains will be the focus of the study. A multi period, multi commodity supply chain model for humanitarian disaster relief operation with the incorporation of agility concepts, materials convergence, and sourcing through media was formulated. The model aims to minimize the human suffering of the victims which can be decomposed to deprivation time and the number of units deprived. The model dictates where to and to allocate the Type 1 commodities to be sent to the victims. The model was run using General Algebraic Mathematical Model System (GAMS). The model was validated and was able to give out a solution that met the expected behavior, which was to give out to all relief centers regardless of cost and travel time. Significant factors were found using Design of Experiments (DOE) were the capacity of the local distribution center, the cash donation, and the learning inventory of Type 2 commodities. It was found out that the lower the capacity of the local distribution center, the lower the unsatisfied demand is. Also, the higher the cash donations, the lower the unsatisfied demand are. As for the effect of material convergence or the beginning inventory of Type 2 commodities, it was found out that at the start of the relief operation, a lower Type 2 commodity is advised as to have more spaces for the Type 1 commodities. As the relief operations goes through, a higher Type 2 commodity donations is advised as to have more Type 2 commodities to sell as source of cash when the cash of the organization is low. It is recommended for future study is to study the behavior of deprivation time or each commodity. The behavior of deprivation per commodity should be different from each other. Also, the another recommendation is to think of ways and incorporate a method that would accurately track the deprivation time of each demand and when it was demanded.