Research on Locating Distribution Centers of Chain Operation Enterprises

Abstract: Chain operation is a successful way of running business. The effective and efficient logistics distribution model provides a strong and solid basis for Chain Enterprises' fast development. As distribution centers play a crucial role in the layout of the logistics system of chain operation enterprises, whether their distribution is rational has a direct influence on the costs and profits and to a certain extent also on the long-term development of chain operation enterprises. Therefore, great attention from many enterprises and scholars has been paid to locating distribution centers. With a tendency that study on locating distribution centers comes to be emphasized home and abroad, some concerning theories andmethods have been put forward and they have been playing a positive role as well. This thesis firstly analyses the current state of international study on locating distribution centers, points out the existing problems and makes a brief but overall summary of the achievements already achieved in this field. And then, it comes up with the two methods respectively in accordance with the specific characteristics of each stage. On the first stage, fuzzy synthetically assessment is adopted in selecting the proposed locations of distribution centers roughly. And on the second stage, a mathematic model is built according to the particular restrictive factors in the process of locating distribution centers and linearity induction in Microsoft Excel is used to gain the processing results of the model. Finally, an example is given to explain in detail the application of the two methods in locating distribution centers of chain operation enterprises…
Key words: Chain Operation Enterprises; Distribution Center Location; Quantitative Model of Distribution Center Location