Optimal configuration of checkposts on free trade port area based on fuzzy simulation optimization

The configuration of customs checkposts for the customs supervision on the free trade port area (FTPA) has impact on logistics operation in FTPA. This paper proposed a fuzzy simulation optimization method for the optimal configuration of checkposts. At the first, a discrete event simulation model based on queuing theory was built through the analysis of logistics operation and traffic flow in FTPA. And a mathematical programming model was established for minimum operation cycle time and feasible utilization of the checkposts. With the fuzzy decision theory, the degree of satisfaction with solutions and importance weight for objectives were adopted to transferring the multiple-objective optimization problem into a process searching for a Bellman-Zadeh optimal solution. Then, the simulation optimization method combined heuristic algorithm was designed to solve this problem. Finally, an actual case study was illustrated to verify the proposed method. The results have shown that the optimal solution can reduce redundancy in checkpost lanes in effect.