Optimal pricing and inventory strategies for leased equipment considering lessees' options

After the expiration of each lease, lessees may return leased equipment on schedule, renew the lease or purchase it according to the equipment status and their demands. By considering lessees' uncertain options and equipment status difference, the pricing and inventory decision-makings of leased equipment are explored. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming model by maximising the net present value of lessor's profit is presented with respect to constraints like rental revenue, manufacturing, lessees' credit check, transportation, maintenance, upgrade and inventory costs. The rental price and inventory decisions are obtained by solving the problem with a particle swarm optimisation algorithm. We also analyse the impacts of purchasing cost of old equipment from a third-party supplier on lessor's inventory, renewal price or purchasing price of leased equipment on lessees' options and lessor's profit. The results show: (1) with the extension of lease period, the rental price increases while the growth rate decreases; (2) the maintenance cost accounts for about 20% of total cost, and the preventive maintenance strategy can reduce excess maintenance cost as lease period increases; (3) the lessor shall set moderate renewal price discount coefficient and purchasing price coefficient, and analyse purchasing cost of old equipment to manage inventory timely.