Applying forward and reverse cross-docking in a multi-product integrated supply chain network

To come up with today’s competitive priorities, companies are always looking for new ways to optimize their processes. Integrated forward/reverse supply chain management is treated as a necessary response to the call for corporate sustainability in logistics networks. Also, due to growing environmental and economic concerns, the recycling of used products is becoming a common practice. It is recently remarkable that applying cross-docking in forward logistics has been recognized as an important field of performance improvement, however, approaches to consider this strategy in the both forward and reverse contexts (simultaneously) are far lacking. To cover these gaps, this paper indicates how cross-docking can be efficiently implemented in a forward/reverse structure, and in this regards, proposes an integrated multi-product supply chain network. To study the problem, we firstly present a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to minimize total costs. Secondly, to solve the obtained model, we use the general algebraic modeling system (GAMS) software. Furthermore, the model performance is evaluated through comparing the case of using forward/reverse cross-docking with that of not applying this strategy (classical approach) in the network configuration—in terms of defining two theories. Finally, the significant outcomes resulted from utilizing forward/reverse cross-docking in the network are discussed. Considered the above requirements, the model increases the efficiency of the integrated forward/reverse logistics.