Optimizing a Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with Scheduled Arrival, Split Deliveries within Time Windows and Emission Consideration

The Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) has gained significant attention in both academic and industrial circles due to its pivotal role in optimizing logistic systems. In the context of evolving distributor companies and the growing integration of logistics with broader societal concerns such as climate considerations, this paper delves into a CVRP variant that includes time windows and split deliveries. Real-world assumptions are incorporated to enhance the practical applicability of the study. A mathematical model is proposed to minimize both economic costs and pollutant emissions. Given the unavailability of cost information for all possible routes, a cost function is estimated through multiple linear regression, considering both distance and time factors simultaneously, in order to associate to each link costs and emissions. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed model, a real-world case study involving an industrial distribution company is investigated. The results demonstrate a significant improvement compared to the company's current operational procedures.