Sustainable P-hub network design model for perishable products: Fuzzy-based Meta-Heuristic Algorithm Location

Hubs are essential facilities in supply chain networks as they enable the centralization and transfer of demand. This article presents a mathematical model for designing a sustainable hub network for perishable commodity transportation, taking into account social responsibility, environmental impact, and economic viability. As many real-world problems have non-deterministic parameters, we consider the time parameter as fuzzy numbers in our model. To validate the model, we solve it in a small-scale using GAMS software after linearization. However, due to the NP-hard nature of the problem, an efficient meta-heuristic algorithm is proposed using MATLAB software. We validate the algorithm on the AP and CAB datasets in small and medium scales. The results demonstrate that the NSGA-II meta-heuristic algorithm can obtain high-quality solutions in a reasonable time. Our proposed model and algorithm can aid decision-makers in designing sustainable and efficient supply chain networks for perishable products.