A Hybrid Approach for Cross-Docking Scheduling

Background/Objectives: Cross-docking is an innovative logistical strategy, which means discharging the cargos from in-bound trucks into the warehouse directly and saved automatically. This article investigates the scheduling of a distribution system consisting of suppliers, cross-docks and the ultimate destinations. The aim of analyzing this problem is presenting a scheduling model so that lateness, earliness and holding costs will be minimized. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Restrictions are applied on the number of arrival and exit doors, departure time, release time, earliness, lateness, and the required space for discharging. Since the offered model is NP-Hard and highly complicated, the hybrid form of firefly and genetic algorithms is applied to solve the model. Results: Tuning the parameters performed and several numerical examples shows the appli-ance of this model. Comparisons via ANOVA and interval plot show that hybrid form can act better than GA and FF in large sizes. Conclusion/Application: The innovation of this article is thanks to its model type and solution method