Vol.:(0123456789) OR Spectrum (2020) 42:1023–1053 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00291-020-00600-1 1 3 REGULAR ARTICLE Blood supply chain: a two‑stage approach for tactical and operational planning Ana Margarida Araújo 1  · Daniel Santos 1  · Inês Marques 1  · Ana Barbosa‑Povoa 1 Received: 16 January 2020 / Accepted: 4 August 2020 / Published online: 17 August 2020 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020 Abstract This work proposes a new integer linear programming model for tactical and opera- tional planning of the blood supply chain. A two-stage approach is developed with a frst aggregated stage to establish tactical planning decisions and a second disag- gregated stage for the operational level. The model considers multi-products, multi- periods and perishability in a large planning horizon. Inventory levels as well as waste of whole blood and blood-derived products are also modelled. A purchase fow is introduced to handle situations of not enough collection to satisfy demand. The objective is cost minimisation whilst reducing waste and dependence on other regions through purchase. A case study of the South Region of Portugal is explored, demonstrating the possibility of decreased dependency and waste by adjusting allo- cation of facilities and allowing a more even distribution of activities between pro- cessing centres. This is the frst study of the kind ever conducted on the Portuguese blood supply chain. Keywords Supply chain management · Blood supply chain · Tactical and operational planning · Perishability · Integer programming * Daniel Santos daniel.rebelo.santos@tecnico.ulisboa.pt Ana Margarida Araújo ana.alvim.araujo@gmail.com Inês Marques ines.marques.p@tecnico.ulisboa.pt Ana Barbosa-Povoa apovoa@tecnico.ulisboa.pt 1 Centre for Management Studies, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal