Redesigning the Wheat and Flour Supply Chain Network Under Uncertainty: A Case Study of Iran

Authors

  • Sepehr Safaei * Industrial Engineering (MSc) Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
  • Maryam Rezapour Niari Industrial Engineering (Assistant Professor) Sharif University of Technology Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22105/raise.vi.68

Abstract

Supply chains are increasingly affected by internal and external factors such as floods, earthquakes, war, and sanctions, creating significant uncertainty. The wheat and flour supply chain directly impacts household diets, and any disruption can lead to severe social, political, and economic consequences. This study presents a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to minimize total costs. The model addresses a multi-product, multi-period problem that includes seven levels: farms, import points, silos (if construction), flour production plants, warehouses, and both essential and non-essential customers. To account for uncertainty, a two-stage stochastic programming approach is applied. In the first stage, the model identifies the optimal locations for silo construction. In the second stage, it optimizes the flow of goods across the network based on different scenarios. The results show the ideal locations for silo construction, the required import volume for each scenario, and flour shortages for non-essential customers, ultimately helping reduce dependency on imports for essential goods.

Keywords:

Supply Chain Network Redesign, Wheat and Flour Integrated Network Design, Wheat Import Planning, Two-Stage Stochastic Programming, Location and Allocation

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Published

2025-08-09

Issue

Articles in Press

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Safaei, S. ., & Rezapour Niari, M. . (2025). Redesigning the Wheat and Flour Supply Chain Network Under Uncertainty: A Case Study of Iran. Research Annals of Industrial and Systems Engineering. https://doi.org/10.22105/raise.vi.68

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