Track: Decision Sciences

Abstract

This case study investigated blood distribution on a Blood Transfusion Unit at the Red Cross in Indonesia. This unit facilitates health services in organizing blood donations, blood examinations, and blood distribution for patients. Currently, the management of blood distribution from the Blood Transfusion Unit to the hospital does not consider the optimal distance and route of blood distribution. In addition, this case study shows that 19 hospitals request types of blood to the Blood Transfusion Units. This study aims to determine the optimal route of blood distribution in the Blood Transfusion Unit. This study needs to solve the Vehicle Routing Problem by adopting the Sweep Algorithm to minimize the distance of blood distribution and determine the distribution route. Optimization of blood distribution found a reduction in the distance by 57% with a reduction in time of 58%. Further research is suggested to determine the scheduling of ordering blood requirements to obtain optimal results.