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The purpose of this paper is to explore the functionality of multistage programming approach on network supply chain structure.

The general supply chain structure is considered and the supply chain planning model is developed using a two stage programming approach. The same model is extended to cover the applicability and advantages of a multi‐stage programming approach.

A multi‐period supply chain model for new product launches under uncertain demand for supply chain network structure has been developed. The model allows simultaneous determination of optimum procurement quantity, production quantity across the different plants, transportation routes and the outsourcing cost in case of shortages. The proposed multi‐stage model is compared with the standard two‐stage model by examining the difference between the objective values of two solutions. The research clearly shows the importance of the multi‐stage model as compared to the two‐stage programming model.

The models developed here are limited to covering demand uncertainty, whereas real supply chain exhibits different uncertainties like capacity, processing time, etc. This can be the future direction for extending the work.

The model is very useful in designing and planning the supply chain in an uncertain environment. The model allows the adjustment of the production plan as time progresses and uncertainties become resolved.

The model uses a scenario approach to address the supply chain planning problem for a supply chain network structure under an uncertain environment and compares the two‐solution approach for a set of problems. Generally supply chain costs are in millions of dollars and the saving using multi‐stage programming can be significant.

To develop an EOQ based model to quantify the benefit accrue due to coordination for the one supplier and n retailer supply chain system and concept to share the benefits derived from coordination.

An intensive literature review has been done in the area of supply chain coordination covering both marketing and operational perspective. The analysis of literature has shown that models to quantify the benefits for supply chains consisting of a single supplier who supplies a product to multiple heterogeneous buyers are very limited. To fill this critical research gap the benefit sharing mechanism is derived based on optimal order quantity of the supply chain system.

This paper demonstrates the benefits of coordination to the supply chain system in terms of cost saving and generating the surplus money. It also suggests a way to find the range of prices to facilitated coordination. Under the developed pricing policy, no partner after coordination had to bear a loss. So in that sense we can say that the benefits of coordination are distributed to all the partners.

The proposed model for benefit sharing protects the interest of all supply chain partners and hence will be profitable to all. The pricing scheme suggested will motivate retailers to increase ordering quantity per order, thereby reducing the joint ordering and holding costs.

The paper is unique in terms of quantifying and sharing the benefits of coordination for one supplier – multi heterogeneous buyer supply chain system.