A Supply Chain Network Design Model for Wheat and Flour: Integrating Domestic Consumption, Imports, Storage,Production, and Distribution; Case Study Iran

Wheat and flour products are considered strategiccommodities, playing a vital role in ensuring food security andcontributing to the economy of countries. Wheat, as one of themain grains, is an essential nutritional source for humans. Theprocessing of wheat into flour forms the basis for the producingof various breads, pastries, and food products that constitute asignificant part of the diet. Development and innovation in thisindustry directly impact the sustainability and quality ofcommunity nutrition. The location of silos and processingcenters in the wheat and flour import and production industryis crucial for reducing transportation costs, maintainingproduct quality, and increasing economic efficiency. Thisenables quicker access to raw materials and prevents thespoilage of wheat. In this context, this study presents anoptimization model for designing the supply chain network ofwheat and flour, aiming to determine the optimal locations forestablishing silos for wheat storage and to define the optimalamount of wheat imports and the consumption of alldomestically produced wheat. The model specifies the amountof wheat to be stored in each; province, the transportation ofdomestic wheat between provinces, the amount of flourproduced in each; province, and its movement betweenprovinces. Numerical results of the model execution andsensitivity analysis experiments, along with managementinsights, are provided.

A Supply Chain Network Design Model for Wheat and Flour: Integrating Domestic Consumption, Imports, Storage,Production, and Distribution; Case Study Iran Keywords:

wheat and flour supply chain , Transporter planning , wheat import planning , optimization , network design , Agriculture