Computer Implemented System for Determining a Distribution Policy for a Single Period Inventory System, Optimization Application Therefor, and Method Therefor, and Decision Support Tool for Facilitating User Determination of a Distribution Policy for a Single Period Inventory System

A computer implemented method for determining a distribution policy for a single period inventory system comprising a plurality of locations, the method comprising the steps of:

• allocating draw units of a consumer item to each location of the plurality of locations;
• determining a location from the plurality of locations such that the determined location meets a pre-selected allocation decision criterion based on at least the draw units allocated to each location of the plurality of locations;
• allocating one and only one additional draw unit of the consumer item to the determined location;
• and
• repeating the determining the location step and the allocating the one and only one additional draw unit step until at least one constraint is satisfied.

A machine readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions execution of which by a processor causes the processor to determine a distribution policy for a single period inventory system comprising a plurality of locations, the execution of the plurality of instructions by the processor causing the processor to perform the actions of:

• allocating draw units of a consumer item to each location of the plurality of locations;
• determining a location from the plurality of locations such that the determined location meets a pre-selected allocation decision criterion based on at least the draw units allocated to each location of the plurality of locations;
• allocating one and only one additional draw unit of the consumer item to the determined location;
• and
• repeating the determining the location step and the allocating the one and only one additional draw unit step until at least one constraint is satisfied.