Cheung, Kwan Wing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-124). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.v / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Motivation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Contributions --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Findings --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- Structure of the Thesis --- p.10 / Chapter 2 --- Beer Logistics in China --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1 --- The Logistics and Supply Chain in China --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2 --- Beer in China --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- The Expanding Market --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- The Multi-tiered Supply Chain --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Reverse Logistics --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Manual Demand and Inventory Manage- ment --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Retail Fees and Value Chains --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Packaging --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3 --- The Wholesaler --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- High Service Quality under Fierce Com- petition --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Use of Vans --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Delivery Problem of Wholesalers --- p.35 / Chapter 3 --- Literature Review --- p.37 / Chapter 3.1 --- Beer Logistics in China --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2 --- Modelling Delivery Problems --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3 --- Applications of the Vehicle Routing Problem --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4 --- Heuristics and Metaheuristics --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5 --- Round up --- p.45 / Chapter 4 --- Problem Definition --- p.48 / Chapter 4.1 --- Problem Definition --- p.48 / Chapter 4.2 --- Assumptions --- p.53 / Chapter 5 --- Problem Formulation --- p.55 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.55 / Chapter 5.2 --- Notations --- p.58 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Indices --- p.58 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Parameters --- p.58 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Decision Variables --- p.59 / Chapter 5.3 --- Mixed Integer Programming Model --- p.60 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- The Model --- p.60 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Descriptions --- p.61 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Complexity and Polynomial Number of Con- straints --- p.66 / Chapter 6 --- Solution Methodology --- p.69 / Chapter 6.1 --- Input Parameters --- p.69 / Chapter 6.2 --- Finding the Optimal Solution --- p.70 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- By CPLEX Optimization Package --- p.70 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Problems of Using Optimization Packages --- p.72 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Observations of Some Optimal Solutions --- p.74 / Chapter 6.3 --- Heuristics Development --- p.77 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Solution Strategies --- p.77 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Evaluation of the Strategy Combinations --- p.84 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Best Combinations --- p.90 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Final Heuristic --- p.92 / Chapter 7 --- Computational Results --- p.94 / Chapter 7.1 --- Methodology --- p.94 / Chapter 7.2 --- Results of Using the Final Heuristic --- p.95 / Chapter 7.3 --- Computational Time --- p.99 / Chapter 8 --- Managerial Insights --- p.102 / Chapter 8.1 --- Practical Issues --- p.102 / Chapter 8.2 --- Managerial Insights --- p.105 / Chapter 9 --- Future Work and Conclusion --- p.109 / Chapter 9.1 --- Future Work --- p.109 / Chapter 9.2 --- Conclusion --- p.112 / Bibliography --- p.115