Blood component preparation-inventory problem with stochastic demand and supply

Blood component preparation, which is the process of separating whole blood into components that are later used in hematotherapy, plays a significant role in the blood supply chain because it dramatically affects the component inventory levels in blood banks. A dynamic programming model is proposed for jointly optimizing the preparation and inventory management of blood components under uncertainty in both the supply of whole blood and the demand for blood components to better meet demand and manage component inventory levels. The combinations of five common methods for preparing blood components with filtration and centrifugation processes are considered, which generate diverse component varieties and volumes while incurring different costs. Moreover, downward substitution among different types of red blood cells is introduced. Subsequently, an approximate dynamic programming method is proposed to solve the problem of coping with its uncertain characteristics. The results of the computational study show that the proposed model and algorithm lead to superior performance compared to the preparation method combinations currently applied in North America, Europe, and China, thus providing a helpful guide on blood component preparation and inventory management in blood banks.

Automated summary

The study introduces a dynamic programming model for optimizing blood component preparation and inventory management, as well as proposing an approximate dynamic programming method to cope with uncertain characteristics. Results show superior performance compared to current preparation methods in North America, Europe, and China, offering a helpful guide for blood component preparation and inventory management in blood banks.