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Article
Publication date: 3 November 2021

Mohammad Mahdi Ershadi and Mohamad Sajad Ershadi

Appropriate logistic planning for the pharmaceutical supply chain can significantly improve many financial and performance aspects. To this aim, a multi-objective optimization…

Abstract

Purpose

Appropriate logistic planning for the pharmaceutical supply chain can significantly improve many financial and performance aspects. To this aim, a multi-objective optimization model is proposed in this paper that considers different types of pharmaceuticals, different vehicles with determining capacities and multi-period logistic planning. This model can be updated based on new information about resources and newly identified requests.

Design/methodology/approach

The main objective function of the proposed model in this paper is minimizing the unsatisfied prioritized requests for pharmaceuticals in the network. Besides, the total transportation activities of different types of vehicles and related costs are considered as other objectives. Therefore, these objectives are optimized hierarchically in the proposed model using the Lexicographic method. This method finds the best value for the first objective function. Then, it tries to optimize the second objective function while maintaining the optimality of the first objective function. The third objective function is optimized based on the optimality of other objective functions, as well. A non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II-multi-objective particle swarm optimization heuristic method is designed for this aim.

Findings

The performances of the proposed model were analyzed in different cases and its results for different problems were shown within the framework of a case study. Besides, the sensitivity analysis of results shows the logical behavior of the proposed model against various factors.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology can be applied to find the best logistic plan in real situations.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors have tried to use a multi-objective optimization model to guide and correct the pharmaceutical supply chain to deal with the related requests. This is important because it can help managers to improve their plans.

Details

International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6123

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 July 2020

Mohammad Mahdi Ershadi and Hossein Shams Shemirani

The purpose of this paper is to design an applied mathematical model to maximize the profits of maintenance activities in manufacturing organizations, also providing an efficient…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design an applied mathematical model to maximize the profits of maintenance activities in manufacturing organizations, also providing an efficient solution method for that.

Design/methodology/approach

Reviewing published articles in the field of maintenance planning and then trying to model the problem to optimal decision making in this field.

Findings

Maintenance optimization can be done more appropriately by the accurate use of mathematical programming.

Research limitations/implications

The existence of probabilistic parameters in this problem leads to hard stochastic programming.

Practical implications

Designing and organizing maintenance activities will increase productivity. This paper attempts to use mathematical models to optimize this matter.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the importance of using optimization methods for maintenance planning.

Details

Facilities , vol. 39 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 June 2021

Mohammad Mahdi Ershadi and Hossein Shams Shemirani

Proper planning for the response phase of humanitarian relief can significantly prevent many financial and human losses. To this aim, a multi-objective optimization model is…

Abstract

Purpose

Proper planning for the response phase of humanitarian relief can significantly prevent many financial and human losses. To this aim, a multi-objective optimization model is proposed in this paper that considers different types of injured people, different vehicles with determining capacities and multi-period logistic planning. This model can be updated based on new information about resources and newly identified injured people.

Design/methodology/approach

The main objective function of the proposed model in this paper is minimizing the unsatisfied prioritized injured people in the network. Besides, the total transportation activities of different types of vehicles are considered as another objective function. Therefore, these objectives are optimized hierarchically in the proposed model using the Lexicographic method. This method finds the best value for the first objective function. Then, it tries to optimize transportation activities as the second objective function while maintaining the optimality of the first objective function.

Findings

The performances of the proposed model were analyzed in different cases and its robust approach for different problems was shown within the framework of a case study. Besides, the sensitivity analysis of results shows the logical behavior of the proposed model against various factors.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology can be applied to find the best response plan for all crises.

Originality/value

In this paper, we have tried to use a multi-objective optimization model to guide and correct response programs to deal with the occurred crisis. This is important because it can help emergency managers to improve their plans.

Details

Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, vol. 12 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-6747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 January 2022

Zeinab Rahimi Rise and Mohammad Mahdi Ershadi

This paper aims to analyze the socioeconomic impacts of infectious diseases based on uncertain behaviors of social and effective subsystems in the countries. The economic impacts…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the socioeconomic impacts of infectious diseases based on uncertain behaviors of social and effective subsystems in the countries. The economic impacts of infectious diseases in comparison with predicted gross domestic product (GDP) in future years could be beneficial for this aim along with predicted social impacts of infectious diseases in countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed uncertain SEIAR (susceptible, exposed, infectious, asymptomatic and removed) model evaluates the impacts of variables on different trends using scenario base analysis. This model considers different subsystems including healthcare systems, transportation, contacts and capacities of food and pharmaceutical networks for sensitivity analysis. Besides, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is designed to predict the GDP of countries and determine the economic impacts of infectious diseases. These proposed models can predict the future socioeconomic trends of infectious diseases in each country based on the available information to guide the decisions of government planners and policymakers.

Findings

The proposed uncertain SEIAR model predicts social impacts according to uncertain parameters and different coefficients appropriate to the scenarios. It analyzes the sensitivity and the effects of various parameters. A case study is designed in this paper about COVID-19 in a country. Its results show that the effect of transportation on COVID-19 is most sensitive and the contacts have a significant effect on infection. Besides, the future annual costs of COVID-19 are evaluated in different situations. Private transportation, contact behaviors and public transportation have significant impacts on infection, especially in the determined case study, due to its circumstance. Therefore, it is necessary to consider changes in society using flexible behaviors and laws based on the latest status in facing the COVID-19 epidemic.

Practical implications

The proposed methods can be applied to conduct infectious diseases impacts analysis.

Originality/value

In this paper, a proposed uncertain SEIAR system dynamics model, related sensitivity analysis and ANFIS model are utilized to support different programs regarding policymaking and economic issues to face infectious diseases. The results could support the analysis of sensitivities, policies and economic activities.

Highlights:

  • A new system dynamics model is proposed in this paper based on an uncertain SEIAR model (Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious, Asymptomatic, and Removed) to model population behaviors;

  • Different subsystems including healthcare systems, transportation, contacts, and capacities of food and pharmaceutical networks are defined in the proposed system dynamics model to find related sensitivities;

  • Different scenarios are analyzed using the proposed system dynamics model to predict the effects of policies and related costs. The results guide lawmakers and governments' actions for future years;

  • An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is designed to estimate the gross domestic product (GDP) in future years and analyze effects of COVID-19 based on them;

  • A real case study is considered to evaluate the performances of the proposed models.

A new system dynamics model is proposed in this paper based on an uncertain SEIAR model (Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious, Asymptomatic, and Removed) to model population behaviors;

Different subsystems including healthcare systems, transportation, contacts, and capacities of food and pharmaceutical networks are defined in the proposed system dynamics model to find related sensitivities;

Different scenarios are analyzed using the proposed system dynamics model to predict the effects of policies and related costs. The results guide lawmakers and governments' actions for future years;

An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is designed to estimate the gross domestic product (GDP) in future years and analyze effects of COVID-19 based on them;

A real case study is considered to evaluate the performances of the proposed models.

Details

Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1026-4116

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 March 2020

M.M. Ershadi, M.J. Ershadi and S.T.A. Niaki

Healthcare failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) identifies potential risks and defines preventive actions to reduce the effects of risks. In addition, a discrete event…

Abstract

Purpose

Healthcare failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) identifies potential risks and defines preventive actions to reduce the effects of risks. In addition, a discrete event simulation (DES) could evaluate the effects of every improvement scenario. Consequently, a proposed integrated HFMEA-DES model is presented for quality improvement in a general hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed model, HFMEA is implemented first. As any risk in the hospital is important and that there are many departments and different related risks, all defined risk factors are evaluated using the risk priority number (RPN) for which related corrective actions are defined based on experts' knowledge. Then, a DES model is designed to determine the effects of selected actions before implementation.

Findings

Results show that the proposed model not only supports different steps of HFMEA but also is highly in accordance with the determination of real priorities of the risk factors. It predicts the effects of corrective actions before implementation and helps hospital managers to improve performances.

Practical implications

This research is based on a case study in a well-known general hospital in Iran.

Originality/value

This study takes the advantages of an integrated HFMEA-DES model in supporting the limitation of HFMEA in a general hospital with a large number of beds and patients. The case study proves the effectiveness of the proposed approach for improving the performances of the hospital resources.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 38 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 April 2020

Mohammad Mahdi Ershadi and Abbas Seifi

This study aims to differential diagnosis of some diseases using classification methods to support effective medical treatment. For this purpose, different classification methods…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to differential diagnosis of some diseases using classification methods to support effective medical treatment. For this purpose, different classification methods based on data, experts’ knowledge and both are considered in some cases. Besides, feature reduction and some clustering methods are used to improve their performance.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the performances of classification methods are evaluated for differential diagnosis of different diseases. Then, experts' knowledge is utilized to modify the Bayesian networks' structures. Analyses of the results show that using experts' knowledge is more effective than other algorithms for increasing the accuracy of Bayesian network classification. A total of ten different diseases are used for testing, taken from the Machine Learning Repository datasets of the University of California at Irvine (UCI).

Findings

The proposed method improves both the computation time and accuracy of the classification methods used in this paper. Bayesian networks based on experts' knowledge achieve a maximum average accuracy of 87 percent, with a minimum standard deviation average of 0.04 over the sample datasets among all classification methods.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology can be applied to perform disease differential diagnosis analysis.

Originality/value

This study presents the usefulness of experts' knowledge in the diagnosis while proposing an adopted improvement method for classifications. Besides, the Bayesian network based on experts' knowledge is useful for different diseases neglected by previous papers.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-378X

Keywords

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