Multi-stage production-inventory systems

This paper presents an overall review of the literature available on multi-stage production-inventory systems. Most of the real life production systems have the system configuration of multi-stage and the research on this area is really challenging from the application point of view. Therefore, a review of the literature on multi-stage production-inventory systems facilitates the scope for future research and its applications. The literature available has been suitably classified based on different criteria and briefly discussed under appropriate classification. The deficiency of the existing literature is reported and future research problems are identified with the aim of modelling these systems more realistically and to suggest some methods/approaches for modelling and solving such complex problems.