Modelling recruitment training in mathematical human resource planning

This paper deals with mathematical human resource planning; more specifically, it suggests a new model for a manpower‐planning system. In general, we study a k‐classed hierarchical system where the workforce demand at each time period is satisfied through internal mobility and recruitment. The motivation for this work is based on various European Union incentives, which promote regional or local government assistance programs that could be exploited by firms not only for hiring and training newcomers, but also to improve the skills and knowledge of their existing personnel. In this respect, in our augmented mobility model we establish a new ‘training/standby’ class, which serves as a manpower inventory position for potential recruits. This class, which may very well be internal or external to the system, is incorporated into the framework of a non‐homogeneous Markov chain model. Furthermore, cost objectives are employed using the goal‐programming approach, under different operating assumptions, in order to minimize the operational cost in the presence of system's constraints and regulations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Toward Fuzzy Optimization without Mathematical Ambiguity

Fuzzy programming has been discussed widely in literature and applied in such various disciplines as operations research, economic management, business administration, and engineering. The main purpose of this paper is to present a brief review on fuzzy programming models, and classify them into three broad classes: expected value model, chance-constrained programming and dependent-chance programming. In order to solve general fuzzy programming models, a hybrid intelligent algorithm is also documented. Finally, some related topics are discussed.     

Reductions of interval nonlinear programming problem

A general nonlinear programming problem with interval functions is considered. Two reductions of this problem to the deterministic nonlinear programming problem are proposed, and illustrative examples are discussed.     

Lower Bounds from State Space Relaxations for Concave Cost Network Flow Problems

In this paper we obtain Lower Bounds (LBs) to concave cost network flow problems. The LBs are derived from state space relaxations of a dynamic programming formulation, which involve the use of non-injective mapping functions guaranteing a reduction on the cardinality of the state space. The general state space relaxation procedure is extended to address problems involving transitions that go across several stages, as is the case of network flow problems. Applications for these LBs include: estimation of the quality of heuristic solutions; local search methods that use information of the LB solution structure to find initial solutions to restart the search (Fontes et al., 2003, Networks, 41, 221–228); and branch-and-bound (BB) methods having as a bounding procedure a modified version of the LB algorithm developed here, (see Fontes et al., 2005a). These LBs are iteratively improved by penalizing, in a Lagrangian fashion, customers not exactly satisfied or by performing state space modifications. Both the penalties and the state space are updated by using the subgradient method. Additional constraints are developed to improve further the LBs by reducing the searchable space. The computational results provided show that very good bounds can be obtained for concave cost network flow problems, particularly for fixed-charge problems.     

有界变量线性规划的基线算法

本文对有界变量线性规划的算法进行了研究，得到了一种解此问题的新算法。文中根据基线算法的算法原理，通过对BL表的旋转，在各变量满足界约束的条件下，使目标函数值不断增大，直至得到有界硬上界，从而得到问题的最优解。文中给出了有界变量线性规划基线算法的计算步骤，并给出了一个例子。与单纯形法相比，采用基线算法解有界变量线性规划操作更简单。迭代次数少，解题速度更快。     

Using rank-1 lift-and-project closures to generate cuts for 0–1 MIPs, a computational investigation

Various techniques for building relaxations and generating valid inequalities for pure or mixed integer programming problems without special structure are reviewed and compared computationally. Besides classical techniques such as Gomory cuts, Mixed Integer Rounding cuts, lift-and-project and reformulation–linearization techniques, a new variant is also investigated: the use of the relaxation corresponding to the intersection of simple disjunction polyhedra (i.e. the so-called elementary closure of lift-and-project cuts). Systematic comparative computational results are reported on series of test problems including multidimensional knapsack problems (MKP) and MIPLIB test problems. From the results obtained, the relaxation based on the elementary closure of lift-and-project cuts appears to be one of the most promising.     

Index Heuristics for Multiclass M/G/1 Systems with Nonpreemptive Service and Convex Holding Costs

We consider the optimal service control of a multiclass M/G/1 queueing system in which customers are served nonpreemptively and the system cost rate is additive across classes and increasing convex in the numbers present in each class. Following Whittle's approach to a class of restless bandit problems, we develop a Langrangian relaxation of the service control problem which serves to motivate the development of a class of index heuristics. The index for a particular customer class is characterised as a fair charge for service of that class. The paper develops these indices and reports an extensive numerical investigation which exhibits strong performance of the index heuristics for both discounted and average costs.     

凹整数规划的分枝定界解法

凹整数规划是一类重要的非线性整数规划问题，也是在经济和管理中有着广泛应用的最优化问题．本文主要研究用分枝定界方法求解凹整数规划问题，这一方法的基本思想是对目标函数进行线性下逼近，然后用乘子搜索法求解连续松弛问题．数值结果表明，用这种分枝定界方法求解凹整数规划是有效的．     

随机交通均衡配流模型及其等价的变分不等式问题

本文讨论了交通网络系统的随机用户均衡原理的数学表述问题.在路段出行成本是流量的单调函数的较弱条件下,对具有固定需求和弹性需求的模式,首次证明了随机均衡配流模型可表示为一个变分不等式问题,同时也说明了该变分不等式问题与相应的互补问题以及一个凸规划问题之间的等价关系.     

基于进化人工神经网络的组合系统滤波技术

在组合系统运用Kalman滤波器技术时,准确的系统模型和可靠的观测数据是保证其性能的重要因素,否则将大大降低Kalman滤波器的估计精度,甚至导致滤波器发散.为解决上述Kalman应用中的实际问题,提出了一种新颖的基于进化人工神经网络技术的自适应Kalman滤波器.仿真试验表明该算法可以在系统模型不准确时、甚至外部观测数据短暂中断时,仍能保证Kalman滤波器的性能.