Mehar’s method to find exact fuzzy optimal solution of unbalanced fully fuzzy multi-objective transportation problems

To the best of our knowledge, till now there is no method described in literature to find exact fuzzy optimal solution of balanced as well as unbalanced fully fuzzy multi-objective transportation problems. In this paper, a new method named as Mehar??s method, is proposed to find the exact fuzzy optimal solution of fully fuzzy multi-objective transportation problems (FFMOTP). The advantages of the Mehar??s method over existing methods are also discussed. To show the advantages of the proposed method over existing methods, some FFMOTP, which cannot be solved by using any of the existing methods, are solved by using the proposed method and the results obtained are discussed. To illustrate the applicability of the Mehar??s method, a real life problem is solved.     

A new method for solving linear multi-objective transportation problems with fuzzy parameters

There are several methods in the literature for solving transportation problems by representing the parameters as normal fuzzy numbers. Chiang [J. Chiang, The optimal solution of the transportation problem with fuzzy demand and fuzzy product, J. Inform. Sci. Eng. 21 (2005) 439-451] pointed out that it is better to represent the parameters as (λ, ρ) interval-valued fuzzy numbers instead of normal fuzzy numbers and proposed a method to find the optimal solution of single objective transportation problems by representing the availability and demand as (λ, ρ) interval-valued fuzzy numbers. In this paper, the shortcomings of the existing method are pointed out and to overcome these shortcomings, a new method is proposed to find solution of a linear multi-objective transportation problem by representing all the parameters as (λ, ρ) interval-valued fuzzy numbers. To illustrate the proposed method a numerical example is solved. The advantages of the proposed method over existing method are also discussed.     

A new approach for solving fully intuitionistic fuzzy transportation problems

In this paper, a well-known network-structured problem called the transportation problem (TP) is considered in an uncertain environment. The transportation costs, supply and demand are represented by trapezoidal intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (TrIFNs) which are the more generalized form of trapezoidal fuzzy numbers involving a degree of acceptance and a degree of rejection. We formulate the intuitionistic fuzzy TP (IFTP) and propose a solution approach to solve the problem. The IFTP is converted into a deterministic linear programming (LP) problem, which is solved using standard LP algorithms. The main contributions of this paper are fivefold: (1) we convert the formulated IFTP into a deterministic classical LP problem based on ordering of TrIFNs using accuracy function; (2) in contrast to most existing approaches, which provide a crisp solution, we propose a new approach that provides an intuitionistic fuzzy optimal solution; (3) in contrast to existing methods that include negative parts in the obtained intuitionistic fuzzy optimal solution and intuitionistic fuzzy optimal cost, we propose a new method that provides non-negative intuitionistic fuzzy optimal solution and optimal cost; (4) we discuss about the advantages of the proposed method over the existing methods for solving IFTPs; (5) we demonstrate the feasibility and richness of the obtained solutions in the context of two application examples.     

Methods for solving fuzzy assignment problems and fuzzy travelling salesman problems with different membership functions

Mukherjee and Basu proposed a new method for solving fuzzy assignment problems. In this paper, some fuzzy assignment problems and fuzzy travelling salesman problems are chosen which cannot be solved by using the fore-mentioned method. Two new methods are proposed for solving such type of fuzzy assignment problems and fuzzy travelling salesman problems. The fuzzy assignment problems and fuzzy travelling salesman problems which can be solved by using the existing method, can also be solved by using the proposed methods. But, there exist certain fuzzy assignment problems and fuzzy travelling salesman problems which can be solved only by using the proposed methods. To illustrate the proposed methods, a fuzzy assignment problem and a fuzzy travelling salesman problem is solved. The proposed methods are easy to understand and apply to find optimal solution of fuzzy assignment problems and fuzzy travelling salesman problems occurring in real life situations.     

A new method for solving fully fuzzy linear programming problems

Lotfi et al. [Solving a full fuzzy linear programming using lexicography method and fuzzy approximate solution, Appl. Math. Modell. 33 (2009) 3151–3156] pointed out that there is no method in literature for finding the fuzzy optimal solution of fully fuzzy linear programming (FFLP) problems and proposed a new method to find the fuzzy optimal solution of FFLP problems with equality constraints. In this paper, a new method is proposed to find the fuzzy optimal solution of same type of fuzzy linear programming problems. It is easy to apply the proposed method compare to the existing method for solving the FFLP problems with equality constraints occurring in real life situations. To illustrate the proposed method numerical examples are solved and the obtained results are discussed.     

Optimal compromise solution of multi-objective minimal cost flow problems in fuzzy environment

Ghatee and Hashemi [M. Ghatee, S.M. Hashemi, Ranking function-based solutions of fully fuzzified minimal cost flow problem, Inform. Sci. 177 (2007) 4271–4294] transformed the fuzzy linear programming formulation of fully fuzzy minimal cost flow (FFMCF) problems into crisp linear programming formulation and used it to find the fuzzy optimal solution of balanced FFMCF problems. In this paper, it is pointed out that the method for transforming the fuzzy linear programming formulation into crisp linear programming formulation, used by Ghatee and Hashemi, is not appropriate and a new method is proposed to find the fuzzy optimal solution of multi-objective FFMCF problems. The proposed method can also be used to find the fuzzy optimal solution of single-objective FFMCF problems. To show the application of proposed method in real life problems an existing real life FFMCF problem is solved.     

A new method for solving fuzzy transportation problems using ranking function

In the literature, several methods are proposed for solving transportation problems in fuzzy environment but in all the proposed methods the parameters are represented by normal fuzzy numbers. [S.H. Chen, Operations on fuzzy numbers with function principal, Tamkang Journal of Management Sciences 6 (1985) 13–25] pointed out that in many cases it is not to possible to restrict the membership function to the normal form and proposed the concept of generalized fuzzy numbers. There are several papers in the literature in which generalized fuzzy numbers are used for solving real life problems but to the best of our knowledge, till now no one has used generalized fuzzy numbers for solving the transportation problems. In this paper, a new method is proposed for solving fuzzy transportation problems by assuming that a decision maker is uncertain about the precise values of the transportation cost, availability and demand of the product. In the proposed method transportation cost, availability and demand of the product are represented by generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. To illustrate the proposed method a numerical example is solved and the obtained results are compared with the results of existing methods. Since the proposed method is a direct extension of classical method so the proposed method is very easy to understand and to apply on real life transportation problems for the decision makers.     

Applications of fuzzy linear programming with generalized LR flat fuzzy parameters

In this paper, the limitations of existing methods to solve the problems of fuzzy assignment, fuzzy travelling salesman and fuzzy generalized assignment are pointed out. All these problems can be formulated in linear programming problems wherein the decision variables are represented by real numbers and other parameters are represented by fuzzy numbers. To overcome the limitations of existing methods, a new method is proposed. The advantage of proposed method over existing methods is demonstrated by solving the problems mentioned above which can or cannot be solved by using the existing methods.     

Mehar’s method for solving fully fuzzy linear programming problems with L-R fuzzy parameters

To the best of our knowledge, there is no method in literature for solving such fully fuzzy linear programming (FLP) problems in which some or all the parameters are represented by unrestricted L-R flat fuzzy numbers. Also, to propose such a method, there is need to find the product of unrestricted L-R flat fuzzy numbers. However, there is no method in the literature to find the product of unrestricted L-R flat fuzzy numbers.In this paper, firstly the product of unrestricted L-R flat fuzzy numbers is proposed and then with the help of proposed product, a new method (named as Mehar’s method) is proposed for solving fully FLP problems. It is also shown that the fully FLP problems which can be solved by the existing methods can also be solved by the Mehar’s method. However, such fully FLP problems in which some or all the parameters are represented by unrestricted L-R flat fuzzy numbers can be solved by Mehar’s method but can not be solved by any of the existing methods.     

一般梯形模糊逼近算子及其在模糊运输问题中的应用

研究运输成本信息为一般模糊数的模糊运输问题.首先,在保持一般模糊数的核不变的条件下,建立一般模糊数与一般梯形模糊数的距离最小优化模型,通过求解模型得到一般模糊数的一般梯形模糊逼近算子,并给出该逼近算子具有的性质如数乘不变性、平移不变性、连续性等.然后利用该逼近算子将一般模糊运输信息表转换成一般梯形模糊运输信息表,再根据已有GFLCM和GFMDM算法得到模糊运输问题的近似最优解,最后给出具体算例分析说明方法的有效性和合理性.     

Capacitated transportation problem with bounds on RIM conditions

Motivated by dead-mileage problem assessed in terms of running empty buses from various depots to starting points, we consider a class of the capacitated transportation problems with bounds on total availabilities at sources and total destination requirements. It is often difficult to solve such problems and the present paper establishes their equivalence with a balanced capacitated transportation problem which can be easily solved by existing methods. Sometimes, total flow in transportation problem is also specified by some external decision maker because of budget/political consideration and optimal solution of such problem is of practical interest to the decision maker and has motivated us to discuss such problem. Various situations arising in unbalanced capacitated transportation problems have been discussed in the present paper as a particular case of original problem. In addition, we have discussed paradoxical situation in a balanced capacitated transportation problem and have obtained the paradoxical solution by solving one of the unbalanced problems. Numerical illustrations are included in support of theory.     

A New Method to Find the Unique Fuzzy Optimal Value of Fuzzy Linear Programming Problems

In this paper, shortcomings and limitations of the existing methods for solving fuzzy linear programming (FLP) problems are pointed out. To overcome the limitations as well as to resolve the shortcomings, a new method is proposed for solving FLP problems. To show the advantage of the proposed method over existing methods, a FLP problem is solved by the existing methods as well as the proposed method, and the obtained results are compared.     

Multi-objective multi-item solid transportation problem in fuzzy environment

A multi-objective multi-item solid transportation problem with fuzzy coefficients for the objectives and constraints, is modeled and then solved by two different methods. A defuzzification method based on fuzzy linear programming is applied for fuzzy supplies, demands and conveyance capacities, including the condition that both total supply and conveyance capacity must not fall below the total demand. First, expected values of the fuzzy objective functions are considered to derive crisp values. Another method based on the concept of “minimum of fuzzy number” is applied for the objective functions that yields fuzzy values instead of particular crisp values for the fuzzy objectives. Fuzzy programming technique and global criterion method are applied to derive optimal compromise solutions of multi-objectives. A numerical example is solved using above mentioned methods and corresponding results are compared.     

Fuzzy Linear Programming Approach for Solving Fuzzy Transportation Problems with Transshipment

To find the fuzzy optimal solution of fuzzy transportation problems it is assumed that the direct route between a source and a destination is a minimum-cost route. However, in actual application, the minimum-cost route is not known a priori. In fact, the minimum-cost route from one source to another destination may well pass through another source first. In this paper, a new method is proposed to find the fuzzy optimal solution of fuzzy transportation problems with the following transshipment: (1) From a source to any another source, (2) from a destination to another destination, and (3) from a destination to any source. In the proposed method all the parameters are represented by trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. To illustrate the proposed method a fuzzy transportation problem with transshipment is solved. The proposed method is easy to understand and to apply for finding the fuzzy optimal solution of fuzzy transportation problems with transshipment occurring in real life situations.     

Mehar’s methods for fuzzy assignment problems with restrictions

In this paper, limitations of existing methods [5, 11] for solving fuzzy assignment problems (FAPs) are pointed out. In order to overcome the limitations of existing methods, two new methods named Mehar’s methods are proposed. To show the advantages of Mehar’s methods over existing methods, some FAPs are solved. The Mehar’s methods can solve the problems solved by existing methods as well as those which cannot be solved by existing methods.     

Uncertain solid transportation problems

The solid transportation problem arises when bounds are given on three item properties. Usually, these properties are source, destination and type of product or mode of transport, and often are given in a uncertain way. This paper deals with two of the ways in which uncertainty can appear in the problem: Interval solid transportation problem and fuzzy solid transportation problem. The first arises when data problem are expressed as intervals instead of point values, and the second when the nature of the information is vague. Both models are treated in the case in which the uncertainty affects only the constraint set. For interval case, an auxiliary problem is obtained in order to find a solution. This auxiliary problem is a standard solid transportation problem which can be solved with the efficient methods existing. For fuzzy case, a parametric approach which makes it possible to find a fuzzy solution to the former problem is used.     

A solid transportation problem with mixed constraint in different environment

In this paper, we have introduced a Solid Transportation Problem where the constrains are mixed type. The model is developed under different environment like, crisp, fuzzy and intuitionistic fuzzy etc. Using the interval approximation method we defuzzify the fuzzy amount and for intuitionistic fuzzy set we use the ($\alpha,\beta$)-cut sets to get the corresponding crisp amount. To find the optimal transportation units a time and space based with order of convergence $O (MN^2)$ meta-heuristic Genetic Algorithm have been proposed. Also the equivalent crisp model so obtained are solved by using LINGO 13.0. The results obtained using GA treats as the best solution by comparing with LINGO results for this present study. The proposed models and techniques are finally illustrated by providing numerical examples. Degree of efficiency have been find out for both the algorithm.     

Mehar’s method for solving fuzzy sensitivity analysis problems with LR flat fuzzy numbers

In published works on fuzzy linear programming there are only few papers dealing with stability or sensitivity analysis in fuzzy mathematical programming. To the best of our knowledge, till now there is no method in the literature to deal with the sensitivity analysis of such fuzzy linear programming problems in which all the parameters are represented by LR flat fuzzy numbers. In this paper, a new method, named as Mehar’s method, is proposed for the same. To show the advantages of proposed method over existing methods, some fuzzy sensitivity analysis problems which may or may not be solved by the existing methods are solved by using the proposed method.     

Risk-control approach for bottleneck transportation problem with randomness and fuzziness

Solving transportation problems is essential in engineering and supply chain management, where profitability depends on optimal traffic flow. This study proposes risk-control approaches for two bottleneck transportation problems with random variables and preference levels to objective functions with risk parameters. Each proposed model is formulated as a multiobjective programming problem using robust-based optimization derived from stochastic chance constraints. Since it is impossible to obtain a transportation pattern that optimizes all objective functions, our proposed models are numerically solved by introducing an aggregation function for the multiobjective problem. An exact algorithm that performs deterministic equivalent transformations and introduces auxiliary problems is also developed.     

Fuzzy goal programming for multiobjective transportation problems

Several fuzzy approaches can be considered for solving multiobjective transportation problem. This paper presents a fuzzy goal programming approach to determine an optimal compromise solution for the multiobjective transportation problem. We assume that each objective function has a fuzzy goal. Also we assign a special type of nonlinear (hyperbolic) membership function to each objective function to describe each fuzzy goal. The approach focuses on minimizing the negative deviation variables from 1 to obtain a compromise solution of the multiobjective transportation problem. We show that the proposed method and the fuzzy programming method are equivalent. In addition, the proposed approach can be applied to solve other multiobjective mathematical programming problems. A numerical example is given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.