Using stochastic approximation methods to compute optimal base-stock levels in inventory control problems

Kunnumkal, S and Topaloglu, H (2008) Using stochastic approximation methods to compute optimal base-stock levels in inventory control problems. Operations Research, 56 (3). pp. 646-664.

Abstract

In this paper, we consider numerous inventory control problems for which the base-stock policies are known to be optimal, and we propose stochastic approximation methods to compute the optimal base-stock levels. The existing stochastic approximation methods in the literature guarantee that their iterates converge, but not necessarily to the optimal base-stock levels. In contrast, we prove that the iterates of our methods converge to the optimal base-stock levels. Moreover, our methods continue to enjoy the well-known advantages of the existing stochastic approximation methods. In particular, they only require the ability to obtain samples of the demand random variables, rather than to compute expectations explicitly, and they are applicable even when the demand information is censored by the amount of available inventory.

Affiliation:	Indian School of Business
ISB Creators:	ISB Creators ORCiD Kunnumkal, S http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6832-0508
Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Stochastic models; Inventory/production: Uncertainty, stochastic
Subjects:	Business and Management
Depositing User:	Veeramani R
Date Deposited:	01 Nov 2014 15:09
Last Modified:	02 Apr 2019 15:37
URI:	http://eprints.exchange.isb.edu/id/eprint/116
Publisher URL:	http://dx.doi.org./10.1287/opre.1070.0477
Publisher OA policy:	http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/0030-364X/
Related URLs:	Link to full-text (other repositories) Google Scholar

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