Research on inventory routing optimization considering multi-temperature joint distribution of mechanical and insulated container

Wang Beibei; Zhong Jian; Wang Beibei; Zhong Jian

doi:10.3934/jimo.2026102

Journal of Industrial and Management Optimization

2026, Volume 22, Issue 6: 2784-2816. doi: 10.3934/jimo.2026102

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Research article

Research on inventory routing optimization considering multi-temperature joint distribution of mechanical and insulated container

Wang Beibei ¹,
Zhong Jian ^{1,2
,
,}

1.
School of Management, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
2.
Guizhou University Laboratory for Collaborative Innovation in Digital Transformation and Governance, Guiyang, Guizhou, China

Received: 07 March 2026 Revised: 23 April 2026 Accepted: 11 May 2026 Published: 21 May 2026
90B06

The high logistics cost of cold chain logistics has become a key bottleneck hindering the development of the fresh produce e-commerce industry, where products have multi-temperature characteristics. Two transportation strategies commonly used in this industry are the mechanical and the insulated container multi-temperature joint distributions. For each transportation strategy, an inventory routing optimization model considering the characteristics of multi-temperature products, multi-period, and heterogeneous vehicles is proposed to find the optimal distribution plan to minimize logistics costs. Research results indicate that the threshold for choosing the optimal transportation strategy is related to the ratio of multi-temperature products. When the ratio of multi-temperature products is below 40%, the optimal transportation strategy is the mechanical multi-temperature joint distribution, which can reduce logistics costs by an average of 31.6%. Additionally, the key parameter exerting the predominant impact on logistics costs was identified, and its unit change can increase logistics costs by 3.2%. Furthermore, the laws of logistics cost changes during multi-temperature product distribution have been revealed, being influenced by transportation strategies, the ratio of multi-temperature products, and the total transportation volume. Based on this, valuable management insights have been put forward.
Citation: Wang Beibei, Zhong Jian. Research on inventory routing optimization considering multi-temperature joint distribution of mechanical and insulated container[J]. Journal of Industrial and Management Optimization, 2026, 22(6): 2784-2816. doi: 10.3934/jimo.2026102

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Abstract

The high logistics cost of cold chain logistics has become a key bottleneck hindering the development of the fresh produce e-commerce industry, where products have multi-temperature characteristics. Two transportation strategies commonly used in this industry are the mechanical and the insulated container multi-temperature joint distributions. For each transportation strategy, an inventory routing optimization model considering the characteristics of multi-temperature products, multi-period, and heterogeneous vehicles is proposed to find the optimal distribution plan to minimize logistics costs. Research results indicate that the threshold for choosing the optimal transportation strategy is related to the ratio of multi-temperature products. When the ratio of multi-temperature products is below 40%, the optimal transportation strategy is the mechanical multi-temperature joint distribution, which can reduce logistics costs by an average of 31.6%. Additionally, the key parameter exerting the predominant impact on logistics costs was identified, and its unit change can increase logistics costs by 3.2%. Furthermore, the laws of logistics cost changes during multi-temperature product distribution have been revealed, being influenced by transportation strategies, the ratio of multi-temperature products, and the total transportation volume. Based on this, valuable management insights have been put forward.

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