A Proposed Air-land Distribution Network for Delivery of Emergency Supplies in Mexico
Ramon-Gabriel Garcia-Martinez
Tecnologico Nacional de Mexico – Instituto Tecnologico de Tehuacan, Libramiento Tecnológico S/N, A.P 247, Sta. María Coapan, 75770, Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico.
Tania-Lucero Reyes-Ortiz
Tecnologico Nacional de Mexico – Instituto Tecnologico de Tehuacan, Libramiento Tecnológico S/N, A.P 247, Sta. María Coapan, 75770, Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico.
Gloria-Karina Herrera-Cortina
Instituto Tecnologico Superior de Perote, Carr. Federal México - Perote 140, 91270, Perote, Veracruz, Mexico.
Eduardo Belmonte-García
Instituto Tecnologico Superior de Perote, Carr. Federal México - Perote 140, 91270, Perote, Veracruz, Mexico.
Lizbeth Calihua-Pacheco
Tecnologico Nacional de Mexico – Instituto Tecnologico de Tehuacan, Libramiento Tecnológico S/N, A.P 247, Sta. María Coapan, 75770, Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico.
Santiago-Omar Caballero-Morales *
Universidad Popular Autonoma del Estado de Puebla A.C., C. 17 Sur 901, Barrio de Santiago, 72410, Puebla, Mexico.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Within logistics and the COVID-19 pandemic, the distribution of vaccines represented an important challenge as time was vital to attend the needs of the world population. This aspect involved an efficient the distribution chain between vaccine producers and consumers. For this purpose, appropriate transportation infrastructure, analysis of demand rate, inventory planning, and vaccine distribution locations were needed. The present work proposes an air-land distribution network which can be adapted for the delivery of vaccines, or prompt delivery of other emergency resources. This network is aimed to decentralize the international reception of these goods through an alternative of main international airports which can connect to local airports to speed up their delivery. Then a land distribution network is designed to reach the final application centers. The results of the network on a test instance provided insights regarding the challenges and practical implications for a real implementation.
Keywords: Facility allocation, vehicle routing, distribution, supply chain management