Track: Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Abstract

Humanity is facing an unprecedent sanitary crisis. Vaccination campaigns at large scale are being carried out all over the world. This research analyzes and compare two supply chain virtual models that simulate a stratified vaccination campaign in central southern Chile. In the first model the gravity model is applied to locate distribution centers. In the second model, the criterion of service distance is applied to locate distribution centers. Both models have identical three-echelon configuration with 1 supplier, 5 distribution centers and 20 vaccination points. Simulation results revealed that in first model, distribution vehicles travel 14,300 km to deliver 2.48 million vaccines, having a 0.33-day lead time with a fleet of 8 vehicles. In the second model, vehicles travel 21,050 km to deliver 2.48 million vaccines, having a 0.83-day lead time was 0.83 days with a fleet of 13. In both cases, 5 distribution centers are and 100% of the vaccines are delivered on time. In conclusion, simulation results suggest that virtual models for simulating supply chain models can be useful when planning vaccination campaigns and making decision about resources’ allocation.