Stochastic Setup-Cost Inventory Model with Backorders and Quasiconvex Cost Functions

In this paper we study a periodic-review single-commodity setup-cost inventory model with backorders and holding/backlog costs satisfying quasiconvexity assumptions. We show that the Markov decision process for this inventory model satisfies the assumptions that lead to the validity of optimality equations for discounted and average-cost problems and to the existence of optimal (s,S) policies. In particular, we prove the equicontinuity of the family of discounted value functions and the convergence of optimal discounted lower thresholds to the optimal average-cost one for some sequences of discount factors converging to 1. If an arbitrary nonnegative amount of inventory can be ordered, we establish stronger convergence properties: (i) the optimal discounted lower thresholds sα converge to optimal average-cost lower threshold s; and (ii) the discounted relative value functions converge to average-cost relative value function. These convergence results previously were known only for subsequences of discount factors even for problems with convex holding/backlog costs. The results of this paper hold for problems with deterministic positive lead times.