{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Integrated procurement and reprocessing planning for reusable medical devices with a limited shelf life.
{Author}: Rickers S;Sahling F;
{Journal}: Health Care Manag Sci
{Volume}: 27
{Issue}: 2
{Year}: 2024 Jun 25
{Factor}: 3.979
{DOI}: 10.1007/s10729-024-09664-9
{Abstract}: We present a new model formulation for a multiproduct dynamic order quantity problem with product returns and a reprocessing option. The optimization considers the limited shelf life of sterile medical devices as well as the capacity constraints of reprocessing and sterilization resources. The time-varying demand is known in advance and must be satisfied by purchasing new medical devices or by reprocessing used and expired devices. The objective is to determine a feasible procurement and reprocessing plan that minimizes the incurred costs. The problem is solved in a heuristic manner in two steps. First, we use a Dantzig-Wolfe reformulation of the underlying problem, and a column generation approach is applied to tighten the lower bound. In the next step, the obtained lower bound is transformed into a feasible solution using CPLEX. Our numerical results illustrate the high solution quality of this approach. The comparison with a simulation based on the first-come-first-served principle shows the advantage of integrated planning.