1. Introduction of Milk-Run
The idea of the milk-run comes from the transport of milk, which is that carriers deliver the milk to each household under the predesigned route [1] . Similarly, in order to lower the vehicle transportation efficacy when taking the order from low-demand manufacturers, the shipping vehicles will leave the distribution center at the same time every day and return after all the auto parts have been loaded [2] . In this way, the JIT supplies a shipping method that according to the demand of varieties and specifications, quality, quantity, time and location requirements have been realized to the highest degree [3] . With the increasing business volume, the number of the suppliers and auto parts, the original point-to-point delivery route has become less and less effective which has risen the overall operating costs [4] . Therefore, the automobile companies should apply and reinforce the milk-run to reach the goals of in-time delivery while avoiding material shortage and production halts. The saved shipping and storage costs will help with the supply hours and agility of the production.
2. Milk-Run Route Optimization Design for a Company
2.1. Problem Description
Taking the distribution center as demand points, vehicles leave from distribution centers, respectively, to pick up cargos from different suppliers. Meanwhile arrange the picking time and routes of vehicles, which satisfying the optimal loading rate while minimize the total cost of the freight.
2.2. Problem Analysis
The transportation route has a huge influence on the freight cost. Route planning usually requires a strong emphasis on the operations research and logistics transportation layout. In this paper, a mathematical modeling is set to plan the milk-run route with a reasonably controlled loading rate, so as to minimize the transportation.
2.3. Methodology Selection
The precise calculation cannot be solved in general computer since the number of the suppliers is increasing. [5] However, modern heuristic algorithm, like Tabu Search, Ant Colony Algorithm, can find the optimal near-optimum solution with limited time. Because of the strong local search ability of the tabu search algorithm, it can avoid the local optimal solution by using the tabu list, possessing the characteristic of global search, efficient and effective optimize at the same time. Therefore, we select some points from a real company to explain the basic principle of Tabu Search.
2.4. Tabu Search Algorithm
2.4.1. The Basic Principle of Tabu Search
Tabu search algorithm is originated from the local search algorithm and its highlight is using the Tabu search. Taboo is to ban repeat the previous work, in order to avoid the local neighborhood search being trapped in a local optimum problem, Tabu search with a Tabu table records have reached the local optimum and achieve some of the local optimal, in a search using Tabu list information not in or have a choice to search these points or process, in order to jump out of the local optimal point [6] .
2.4.2. Tabu Search Implementation Steps
1) Random generation or using heuristic algorithm to generate initial solution, NOW X.
2) Among the neighborhoods of NOW X, N (NOW X), set a certain number of candidate solutions. Then choose an optimal solution from those candidate solutions, NEXT X, to replace the current solution, NEXT X = NOW X. Repeat the second steps.
3) To meet a curtained condition, stop searching and output the result (The specific process as shown in Figure 1).
2.4.3. Representation and Evaluation of Tabu Search Solution
1) Representation of solution: Using common arrangement method to represent the solution both suppliers and distribution center, it can show routing more intuitively and operate easily, compared with directed edge arrangement method. Ordering “0” express distribution center, “1, 2, … n” express each suppliers (E.g., There are 6 component suppliers, 2 vehicles to pick up goods. “012650340” is the routing initial solution which consists of two sub-lines: “0-1-2-6-5-0” and “0-3-4-0”).
2) Evaluation of solution: The objective function is regarded as evaluation function,
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Figure 1. Tabu search implementation step.
thus, the smaller objective function value is, and the better solution is. When search among the neighborhood must ensure the feasibility of the solutions, which means the loading quantity of each arc in routing have to less than load limit. However, in practical situation, loading rate is provided above 85% by businessman, in case of this unwritten rule, the journey would be so long. Consequently, this paper assumed 3 loading rate to find out the optimal scheme.
Ordering “0” express distribution center, “1, 2, … n” express each suppliers. “i” and “j” are indicated distribution center and suppliers, 
is the distance from “i” to “j”, 
is the cost rate from “i” to “j” among cyclic path, K. The target is to minimize the running distance.
The objective function of the path optimization model is as follows:
3. An Illustrative Example of Tabu Research Based on Milk-Run
3.1. Assumptions
Due to the traits of auto parts, the total weight of the parts is usually unable to reach the rated load. So this article assume rated load is 60 m3, the quantity of shipments of each car is supposed to be a whole company’s. After planning a route, re-planning the second route with appeared company removed. This process can be repeated until the volume schedule completed.
Ordering 
(n refers to the number of cyclic path, v refers to the quantity of
shipments, p refers to loading rate, k refers to rated load). Considering loading rate of the whole cyclic path rather than per vehicle, set tabu length L = 5, total number of iterations should less than 400 times. Stop iteration if iteration steps reach 200 but the results have not improved. 100 neighborhoods of the current solution of each iteration are searched.
3.2. Data
1) The distance between suppliers and distribution center; the distance between suppliers and suppliers; the volume of goods are shown as Table 1 (Notes: 0 refers to distribution center, 1 ~ 8 refer to suppliers).
2) The location of distribution center and suppliers are shown as Figure 2.
3.3. Process
1) Concrete steps
・ Step 1: Assuming the loading rate is 75%, from the supplier 1 start to clockwise scanning each point with scanning method, when reach the maximum volume, 70% k, stop scanning. There will be 4 (n = 4) initial routing: 0-1-6-8-0, 0-7-5-4-0, 0-2-0, 0-3-0.
・ Step 2: Encode this initial routing into “0168075402030” as the initial solution. Then use Tabu search to optimize (operation process as shown in Figure 1), the result is
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Figure 2. The location of distribution center and suppliers.
“0361045208070”, so the corresponding routes are: 0-3-6-1-0, 0-4-5-2-0, 0-8-0, 0-7-0, total distance is 84.
・ Assuming the loading rate is 80%, similarly, there will be 3 (n = 3) initial routing: 0-1-6-8-0, 0-7-5-4-0, 0-2-3-0, the encode result is “016807540230”. And the optimize result is “036104520870”, so the corresponding route are: 0-3-6-1-0, 0-4-5-2-0, 0-8-7-0, total distance is 97. And so on for 85% loading rate.
Therefore, there are 2 schemes available. Companies can accord actual situation of traffic condition, parking and toll to select the best scheme.
・ Provide 4 vehicles total distance is 84.
・ Provide 3 vehicles total distance is 97.
2) Comparing the planning before and after
The comparison of the planning before and after is shown as Table 2.
3) Summary
After below comparison, we can safely reach a point that the distance of transportation can be reduced 29 (named the disparity between the longest and the shortest is 84), which occupied 25% of the original transportation distance. What’s more, it’s reasonable
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Table 2. Comparing the planning before and after.
to reduce 5 vehicles, which occupied 62% of the original vehicles (namely the limited amount of the vehicles).
4. Conclusion
Milk-run belongs to lean supply chain management. Appling and reinforcing the milk- run is conductive to automobile industry to cut down lead time and increase autonomy and flexibility. This article, which is based on the Tabu Search algorithm, has acquired the model innovation in the matter of milk-run for auto parts, which makes the solution of this kind of problems get more easier and achieve the larger degree of “Just in Time”, also avoid the material shortage occurrence, at the same time, it can realize the transportation and inventory cost savings.