An integrative decision-making model for the Internet of Things-enabled supply chains of fresh agri-product

Abstract

The application of new information technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) has caused a deep impact on production and operations management in various fields. In this paper, a mixed-integer programming model is proposed to generate integrative decision-making in the IoT-enabled fresh agri-products supply chains. The designed model integrates three key stages, that is, planting, storage, and distribution, to help growers make the optimal decisions for maximising revenue. Decisions are made after comprehensive consideration of market factors such as price and demand as well as agricultural characteristics such as crop yield and shelf life. Results of numerical experiments show that significant improvement of benefits can be obtained through the overall decision-making of planting, storage, and distribution. Additionally, it may be most beneficial for growers to keep the warehouse’s storage time and storage capacity at a medium level. The IoT-based integrative decision-making method explored in this study can be applied to other fields including manufacturing to achieve more efficient production and operations management.

KEYWORDS:

• Fresh agri-products
• supply chain planning
• integrative decision-making
• Internet of Things
• e-commerce

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author Ms. Na Lin and Prof. Junhu Ruan, upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by National Key Research and Development Program of China [grant number: 2020YFD1100601]; in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number: 71973106, 72271202]; in part by the Shaanxi Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars [grant number: 2021JC-21]; and in part by the Tang Scholar of Northwest A&F University; in part by the Graduate Science and Technology Innovation Project of School of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University [grant number: JGKC 2021-03]. Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China [grant number: 2022JM-419].

Notes on contributors

Jiliang Han

Jiliang Han received a bachelor’s degree in engineering management from the School of Economics and Management, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China, in 2018. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in agricultural economics and management with the School of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China. His current research interests include operations research, agricultural economic management and agricultural system engineering.

Lin Li

Lin Li is a Ph.D. student majoring in Economic Management of Agriculture and Forestry at Northwest A&F University, China. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Shandong Agricultural University, China (2018). Her current research interests include low carbon industry value chain, agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural system engineering.

Zilai Sun

Zilai Sun is currently a lecturer with the College of Economics & Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China. He received the Ph.D. degree in management science and engineering from Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China, in 2019. He obtained his BS and MS degrees from Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China, in 2007 and 2010, respectively. His research interests primarily include Fresh agricultural products, e-commerce and logistics management, and Multi-channel supply chain management. He has published articles in IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, Asia Pacific Journal of Operational Research, Agriculture, and Scientific Programming.

Xiaochun Feng

Xiaochun Feng received the B.S. degree in information management and system from Jilin University, Changchun, China, in 2012 and the M.S. and doctor degree in Management Science and Engineering from Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China, in 2019. She is currently a full-time Lecturer at the College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, China. Her main research interests include E-commerce and logistic management.

Na Lin

Na Lin received a B.S. degree in Industrial Design from the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, China, in 2017. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Management Science and Engineering with the School of Economics and Management, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China. Her research interests include operations research, supply chain management, and logistics.

Junhu Ruan

Junhu Ruan received the Ph.D. degree in management science and engineering from the Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China, in 2015. He worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, from February 2016 to February 2018. He is currently a full-time Professor with the College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China. He has published over 50 papers in well-known journals. He is hosting some research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the China Ministry of Education. His main research interests include IoT-based agriculture, e-commerce, data mining, and logistics.