Managing inventory and production capacity in start-up firms

We consider the problem of managing inventory and production capacity in a start-up manufacturing firm with the objective of maximising the probability of the firm surviving as well as the more common objective of maximising profit. Using Markov decision process models, we characterise and compare the form of optimal policies under the two objectives. This analysis shows the importance of coordination in the management of inventory and production capacity. The analysis also reveals that a start-up firm seeking to maximise its chance of survival will often choose to keep production capacity significantly below the profit-maximising level for a considerable time. This insight helps us to explain the seemingly cautious policies adopted by a real start-up manufacturing firm.     

Dynamic pricing with uncertain production cost: An alternating-move approach

This article studies a two-firm dynamic pricing model with random production costs. The firms produce the same perishable products over an infinite time horizon when production (or operation) costs are random. In each period, each firm determines its price and production levels based on its current production cost and its opponent’s previous price level. We use an alternating-move game to model this problem and show that there exists a unique subgame perfect Nash equilibrium in production and pricing decisions. We provide a closed-form solution for the firm’s pricing policy. Finally, we study the game in the case of incomplete information, when both or one of the firms do not have access to the current prices charged by their opponents.     

Energy contracts management by stochastic programming techniques

We consider the problem of optimal management of energy contracts, with bounds on the local (time step) amounts and global (whole period) amounts to be traded, integer constraint on the decision variables and uncertainty on prices only. After building a finite state Markov chain by using vectorial quantization tree method, we rely on the stochastic dual dynamic programming (SDDP) method to solve the continuous relaxation of this stochastic optimization problem. An heuristic for computing sub optimal solutions to the integer optimization problem, based on the Bellman values of the continuous relaxation, is provided. Combining the previous techniques, we are able to deal with high-dimensional state variables problems. Numerical tests applied to realistic energy markets problems have been performed.     

Modelling start-up costs of multiple technologies in electricity markets

This paper deals with the dispatch problem in providing electric power with minimal costs using different technologies. Initially, we describe this problem in terms of a linear program. This enables us to take generally neglected start-up costs into account. The main result is the explicit solution of a simplified linear program which provides us with a better understanding of the ‘start-up cost’ effects. Furthermore, we show that dominated technologies should be used in the case of limited availability of efficient technologies.      

Discrete and continuous time representations and mathematical models for large production scheduling problems: A case study from the pharmaceutical industry

The underlying time framework used is one of the major differences in the basic structure of mathematical programming formulations used for production scheduling problems. The models are either based on continuous or discrete time representations. In the literature there is no general agreement on which is better or more suitable for different types of production or business environments. In this paper we study a large real-world scheduling problem from a pharmaceutical company. The problem is at least NP-hard and cannot be solved with standard solution methods. We therefore decompose the problem into two parts and compare discrete and continuous time representations for solving the individual parts. Our results show pros and cons of each model. The continuous formulation can be used to solve larger test cases and it is also more accurate for the problem under consideration.     

Filtrations induced by continuous functions

In Persistent Homology and Topology, filtrations are usually given by introducing an ordered collection of sets or a continuous function from a topological space to Rⁿ${\mathbb{R}}^n$. A natural question arises, whether these approaches are equivalent or not. In this paper we study this problem and prove that, while the answer to the previous question is negative in the general case, the approach by continuous functions is not restrictive with respect to the other, provided that some natural stability and completeness assumptions are made. In particular, we show that every compact and stable 1-dimensional filtration of a compact metric space is induced by a continuous function. Moreover, we extend the previous result to the case of multi-dimensional filtrations, requiring that our filtration is also complete. Three examples show that we cannot drop the assumptions about stability and completeness. Consequences of our results on the definition of a distance between filtrations are finally discussed.     

Optimal stopping with continuous control of piecewise deterministic Markov processes

In this paper we consider the problem of optimal stopping and continuous control on some local parameters of a piecewise-deterministic Markov processes (PDP's). Optimality equations are obtained in terms of a set of variational inequalities as well as on the first jump time operator of the PDP. It is shown that if the final cost function is absolutely continuous along trajectories then so is the value function of the optimal stopping problem with continuous control. These results unify and generalize previous ones in the current literature.     

生鲜农产品多配送中心连续选址FCM-ISA算法及应用

本文对生鲜农产品多配送中心连续选址问题进行了研究,在建立考虑最小距离约束下连续选址模型的基础上,针对以往连续选址模型求解过程中采用随机方式生成初始解会造成算法搜索范围过大且易陷入局部最优的局限,创新性地提出了连续选址模型的模糊C均值聚类-改进模拟退火(FCM-ISA)算法,并以杭州市为例验证了所建模型及设计算法的有效性。计算结果表明,本文所建立的生鲜农产品多配送中心连续选址模型更符合实际选址情景,设计的FCM-ISA算法收敛速度快且全局寻优效果好,对科学地进行生鲜农产品多配送中心选址决策具有重要的指导意义。     

An analysis of production-inventory models with deteriorating items in a two-echelon supply chain

This paper revisits two previous studies that addressed the integrated production–inventory problem for deteriorating items in a two-echelon supply chain, where the item’s deterioration rate is a constant or follows a continuous probability distribution function. The aim of this study is to present an improved solution procedure to determine the delivery lot size and the number of deliveries per production batch cycle that minimizes the total cost of the entire supply chain. The performance of the proposed methodology is illustrated analytically and numerically.     

Solving a multiobjective location routing problem with a metaheuristic based on tabu search. Application to a real case in Andalusia

In this work we present a multiobjective location routing problem and solve it with a multiobjective metaheuristic procedure. In this type of problem, we have to locate some plants within a set of possible locations to meet the demands of a number of clients with multiple objectives. This type of model is used to solve a problem with real data in the region of Andalusia (Spain). Thus, we study the location of two incineration plants for the disposal of solid animal waste from some preestablished locations in Andalusia, and design the routes to serve the different slaughterhouses in this region. This must be done while taking into account certain economic objectives (start-up, maintenance, and transport costs) and social objectives (social rejection by towns on the truck routes, maximum risk as an equity criterion, and the negative implications for towns close to the plant).     

A general filter regularization method to solve the three dimensional Cauchy problem for inhomogeneous Helmholtz-type equations: Theory and numerical simulation

In this paper, we solve the Cauchy problem for an inhomogeneous Helmholtz-type equation with homogeneous Dirichlet and Neumann boundary condition. The proposed problem is ill-posed. Up to now, most investigations on this topic focus on very specific cases, and with Dirichlet boundary condition. Recently, we solve this problem in 2D for an inhomogeneous modified Helmholtz equation (2012). This work is a continuous expansion of our previous results. Herein we introduce a general filter regularization (GFR) method, and then from the GFR we deduce two concrete filters, which are a foundation to implement a numerical procedure. In addition, we develop a numerical model for solving this problem in three dimensional region. The proposed filter method has been verified by numerical experiments.     

The convection-diffusion equation for a finite domain with time varying boundaries

A solution is developed for a convection-diffusion equation describing chemical transport with sorption, decay, and production. The problem is formulated in a finite domain where the appropriate conservation law yields Robin conditions at the ends. When the input concentration is arbitrary, the problem is underdetermined because of an unknown exit concentration. We resolve this by defining the exit concentration as a solution to a similar diffusion equation which satisfies a Dirichlet condition at the left end of the half line. This problem does not appear to have been solved in the literature, and the resulting representation should be useful for problems of practical interest.

Authors of previous works on problems of this type have eliminated the unknown exit concentration by assuming a continuous concentration at the outflow boundary. This yields a well-posed problem by forcing a homogeneous Neumann exit, widely known as Danckwerts condition. We provide a solution to that problem and use it to produce an estimate which demonstrates that Danckwerts condition implies a zero concentration at the outflow boundary, even for a long flow domain and a large time.     

Dynamic characterization of an anaerobic digester during the start-up phase by pH time-series analysis

In this paper, an alternative methodology for the online monitoring of key variables during the start-up phase of continuous anaerobic digestion processes is presented. The proposal is based on the application of fractal analysis to pH time-series obtained from a lab-scale fixed-bed reactor (FBR) used in the tequila vinasses treatment. Results showed that fractal parameters exhibit a dynamic behavior closely related to that of key process variables such that, chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile fatty acids (VFA) and biogas production, whose on-line monitoring is difficult and expensive in practice. Thus, the industrial implementation of the here proposed ideas is quite encouraging, since it is shown that fractal analysis of conventional pH signals can be used as an inexpensive and easy to implement tool for anaerobic digesters diagnosis, which could drastically reduce the time and problems currently associated to the start-up phase.     

The Multidimensional Moment Problem with Complexity Constraint

A long series of previous papers have been devoted to the (one-dimensional) moment problem with nonnegative rational measure. The rationality assumption is a complexity constraint motivated by applications where a parameterization of the solution set in terms of a bounded finite number of parameters is required. In this paper we provide a complete solution of the multidimensional moment problem with a complexity constraint also allowing for solutions that require a singular measure added to the rational, absolutely continuous one. Such solutions occur on the boundary of a certain convex cone of solutions. In this paper we provide complete parameterizations of all such solutions. We also provide errata for a previous paper in this journal coauthored by one of the authors of the present paper.     

Inventory control with fixed cost and price optimization in continuous time

We continue to study the problem of inventory control, with simultaneous pricing optimization in continuous time. In our previous paper [8], we considered the case without set up cost, and established the optimality of the base stock-list price (BSLP) policy. In this paper we consider the situation of fixed price. We prove that the discrete time optimal strategy (see [11]), i.e., the (s, S, p) policy can be extended to the continuous time case using the framework of quasi-variational inequalities (QVIs) involving the value function. In the process we show that an associated second order, nonlinear two-point boundary value problem for the value function has a unique solution yielding the triplet (s, S, p). For application purposes the explicit knowledge of this solution is needed to specify the optimal inventory and pricing strategy. Se- lecting a particular demand function we are able to formulate and implement a numerical algorithm to obtain good approximations for the optimal strategy.     

多种变质性物品的经济批量问题

本文考虑了多种变质性物品在同一台设备上生产的最优基本生产周期问题。本文采用了基本周期法,给出了问题的数学模型,分析了模型最优解的存在性,并给出了求解该模型的算法和算例,从算例的结果说明基本周期法比公共周期法解决经济批量问题更优。     

The GI/M/1 queue with start-up period and single working vacation and Bernoulli vacation interruption

Consider a GI/M/1 queue with start-up period and single working vacation. When the system is in a closed state, an arriving customer leading to a start-up period, after the start-up period, the system becomes a normal service state. And during the working vacation period, if there are customers at a service completion instant, the vacation can be interrupted and the server will come back to the normal working level with probability p (0 ? p ? 1) or continue the vacation with probability 1 − p. Meanwhile, if there is no customer when a vacation ends, the system is closed. Using the matrix-analytic method, we obtain the steady-state distributions for the queue length at both arrival epochs and arbitrary epochs, the waiting time and sojourn time.     

Nonuniqueness of solutions for a singular diffusion problem

In this paper, we consider a singular diffusion problem and show, by constructing a counterexample, that the weak solution to the problem is not unique. The proof consists of several steps. First, we prove that there exists a maximal weak solution to the problem. We show that the support of the continuous maximal weak solution cannot decrease in time. Then we cite an example of a nonnegative continuous function with shrinking support that also solves the problem, and therefore the problem possesses at least two weak solutions for some continuous nonnegative initial data.     

带时变生产成本的易变质经济批量模型的最优策略分析

考虑了具有时变生产成本的易变质产品经济批量模型．有限计划期内,单位生产成本、生产率以及需求率假定为时间的连续函数,生产固定成本则具有遗忘效应现象．当不允许缺货时,建立了以总成本最小为目标的混合整数优化模型并证明了此问题最优解的相关性质．对于此问题的特殊情形,将成本函数中的离散型变量松弛为连续型变量,通过分析其最优解的存在性及唯一性,求解了此最优解,将其作为初始值设计了求取一般情形最优解的有效算法．最后通过算例验证了理论结果的有效性．     

Scheduling a single machine with multiple job processing ability to minimize makespan

This paper investigates a new problem, called single machine scheduling with multiple job processing ability, which is derived from the production of the continuous walking beaming reheating furnace in iron and steel industry. In this problem, there is no batch and the jobs enter and leave the machine one by one and continuously, which is different from general single machine batch scheduling problem where the jobs in a batch share the same start and departure time. Therefore, the start time and the departure time of a job depend on not only the job sequence but also the machine capacity. This problem is also different from the single semi-continuous batching machine scheduling recently studied in the literature, where the jobs are processed in batch mode and a new batch cannot be started for processing until the processing of the previous batch is completed though jobs in the same batch enter and leave the machine one by one. The objective of this problem is to minimize the makespan. We formulate this problem as a mixed integer linear programming model and propose a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm for this problem. Computational results on randomly generated instances show that the proposed PSO algorithm is effective.