Multi-product production planning: A goal programming approach

Cost minimization multi-product production problems with static production resource usage and internal product flow requirements have been solved by linear programming (LP) with input/output analysis. If the problem is complicated by interval resource estimates, interval linear programming (ILP) can be used. The solution of realistic problems by the above method is cumbersome. This paper suggests that linear goal programming (LGP) can be used to model a multi-product production system. LGP's unique modeling capabilities are used to solve a production planning problem with variable resource parameters. Input/output analysis is used to determine the technological coefficients for the goal constraints and is also used to derive an information sub-model that is used to reduce the number of variable resource goal constraints. Preliminary findings suggest that the LGP approach is more cost-efficient (in terms of CPU time) and in addition provides valuable information for aggregate planning.     

Revised multi-choice goal programming

Chang [C.-T. Chang, Multi-choice goal programming, Omega, The Inter. J. Manage. Sci. 35 (2007) 389–396] has recently proposed a new method namely multi-choice goal programming (MCGP) for multi-objective decision problems. The multi-choice goal programming allows the decision maker to set multi-choice aspiration levels for each goal to avoid underestimation of the decision. However, to express the multi-choice aspiration levels, multiplicative terms of binary variables are involved in their model. This leads to difficult implementation and it is not easily understood by industrial participants. In this paper, we propose an alternative method to formulate the multi-choice aspiration levels with two contributions: (1) the alternative approach does not involve multiplicative terms of binary variables, this leads to more efficient use of MCGP and is easily understood by industrial participants, and (2) the alternative approach represents a linear form of MCGP which can easily be solved by common linear programming packages, not requiring the use of integer programming packages. In addition, a new concept of constrained MCGP is introduced for constructing the relationships between goals in this paper. Finally, to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method, an illustrate example is included.     

A practical weight sensitivity algorithm for goal and multiple objective programming

This paper presents a weight sensitivity algorithm that can be used to investigate a portion of weight space of interest to the decision maker in a goal or multiple objective programme. The preferential information required from the decision maker is an initial estimate of their starting solution, with an equal weights solution being used as a default if this is not available, and preference information that will define the portion of weight space on which the sensitivity analysis is to be conducted. The different types of preferential information and how they are incorporated by the algorithm are discussed. The output of the algorithm is a set of distinct solutions that characterise the portion of weight space searched. The possible different output requirements of decision makers are detailed in the context of the algorithm.The methodology is demonstrated on two examples, one hypothetical and the other relating to predicting cinema-going behaviour. Conclusions and avenues for future research are given.     

A genetic approach for strategic resource allocation planning

Enterprises often implement a measurement system to monitor their march towards their strategic goals. Although this way it is possible to assess the progress of each goal, there is no structured way to reconsider resource allocation to those goals and to plan an optimal (or near optimal) allocation scheme. In this study we propose a genetic approach to match each goal with an autonomous entity (agent) with a specific resource sharing behavior. The overall performance is evaluated through a set of functions and genetic algorithms are used to eventuate in approximate optimal behavior’s schemes. To outline the strategic goals of the enterprise we used the balanced scorecard method. Letting agents deploy their sharing behavior over simulation time, we measure the scorecard’s performance and detect distinguished behaviors, namely recommendations for resource allocation.     

Applying stochastic goal programming: A case study on water use planning

A decision support model to help public water agencies allocate surface water among farmers and authorize the use of groundwater for irrigation (especially in Mediterranean dry regions) is developed. This is a stochastic goal programming approach with two goals, the first concerning farm management while the other concerns environmental impact. Targets for both goals are established by the agency. This model yields three reduction factors to decide the different reductions in available surface water, standard groundwater and complementary groundwater that the agency should grant/authorize for irrigation, this depending on if it is a dry or wet year. In drought periods, the model recommends using more groundwater (in percentage) than in wet periods. A case study using year-to-year statistical information on available water over the period 1941–2005 is developed through numerical tables. A step-by-step computational process is presented in detail.     

A fuzzy goal programming approach to multi-objective optimization problem with priorities

In goal programming problem, the general equilibrium and optimization are often two conflicting factors. This paper proposes a generalized varying-domain optimization method for fuzzy goal programming (FGP) incorporating multiple priorities. According to the three possible styles of the objective function, the varying-domain optimization method and its generalization are proposed. This method can generate the results consistent with the decision-maker (DM)’s expectation, that the goal with higher priority may have higher level of satisfaction. Using this new method, it is a simple process to balance between the equilibrium and optimization, and the result is the consequence of a synthetic decision between them. In contrast to the previous method, the proposed method can make that the higher priority achieving the higher satisfactory degree. To get the global solution of the nonlinear nonconvex programming problem resulting from the original problem and the varying-domain optimization method, the co-evolutionary genetic algorithms (GAs), called GENOCOPIII, is used instead of the SQP method. In this way the DM can get the optimum of the optimization problem. We demonstrate the power of this proposed method by illustrative examples.     

Solving multi-level multi-objective linear programming problems through fuzzy goal programming approach

In this paper, two new algorithms are presented to solve multi-level multi-objective linear programming (ML-MOLP) problems through the fuzzy goal programming (FGP) approach. The membership functions for the defined fuzzy goals of all objective functions at all levels are developed in the model formulation of the problem; so also are the membership functions for vectors of fuzzy goals of the decision variables, controlled by decision makers at the top levels. Then the fuzzy goal programming approach is used to achieve the highest degree of each of the membership goals by minimizing their deviational variables and thereby obtain the most satisfactory solution for all decision makers.     

A simulation-based test of stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis using achievement functions

Stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis using achievement functions (SMAA-A) is a preference model for discrete-choice decision making that inverts the traditional goal programming process by asking what combinations of aspirations are necessary to make each alternative the preferred one, rather than what alternative is preferred given a set of aspirations. In this paper, we test the ability of the model to discern good-performing alternatives from poorly-performing ones using a simulation study. Simulation results show that a suitably detailed construction of the acceptability index is particularly important, and that the resulting model can be fruitfully applied in the selection of a shortlist of alternatives from a larger set with only very limited decision maker involvement.     

A method for solving fuzzy goal programming problems based on MINMAX approach

Narasimhan incorporated fuzzy set theory within goal programming formulation in 1980. Since then numerous research has been carried out in this field. One of the well-known models for solving fuzzy goal programming problems was proposed by Hannan in 1981. In this paper the conventional MINMAX approach in goal programming is applied to solve fuzzy goal programming problems. It is proved that the proposed model is an extension to Hannan model that deals with unbalanced triangular linear membership functions. In addition, it is shown that the new model is equivalent to a model proposed in 1991 by Yang et al. Moreover, a weighted model of the new approach is introduced and is compared with Kim and Whang’s model presented in 1998. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the validity and strengths of the new models.     

Multi-choice goal programming with utility functions

Goal programming (GP) has been, and still is, the most widely used technique for solving multiple-criteria decision problems and multiple-objective decision problems by finding a set of satisfying solutions. However, the major limitation of goal programming is that can only use aspiration levels with scalar value for solving multiple objective problems. In order to solve this problem multi-choice goal programming (MCGP) was proposed by Chang (2007a). Following the idea of MCGP this study proposes a new concept of level achieving in the utility functions to replace the aspiration level with scalar value in classical GP and MCGP for multiple objective problems. According to this idea, it is possible to use the skill of MCGP with utility functions to solve multi-objective problems. The major contribution of using the utility functions of MCGP is that they can be used as measuring instruments to help decision makers make the best/appropriate policy corresponding to their goals with the highest level of utility achieved. In addition, the above properties can improve the practical utility of MCGP in solving more real-world decision/management problems.     

A goal programming approach to vehicle routing problems with soft time windows

The classical vehicle routing problem involves designing a set of routes for a fleet of vehicles based at one central depot that is required to serve a number of geographically dispersed customers, while minimizing the total travel distance or the total distribution cost. Each route originates and terminates at the central depot and customers demands are known. In many practical distribution problems, besides a hard time window associated with each customer, defining a time interval in which the customer should be served, managers establish multiple objectives to be considered, like avoiding underutilization of labor and vehicle capacity, while meeting the preferences of customers regarding the time of the day in which they would like to be served (soft time windows). This work investigates the use of goal programming to model these problems. To solve the model, an enumeration-followed-by-optimization approach is proposed which first computes feasible routes and then selects the set of best ones. Computational results show that this approach is adequate for medium-sized delivery problems.     

A chance constraints goal programming model for the advertising planning problem

This paper presents a model which has been designed to decide the number of advertisement in different advertising media and the optimal allocation of the budget assigned to the different media. The main objective of this problem is to maximize the reach to the desired section of people for different media within their maximum allowable budget without violating the max and min number of advertisement goals. The media have been considered as different newspapers and different channels in Televisions. Here in this article the model has been formulated in such a way that the advertisement should reach to those who are suitable for the product instead of going to those section who are not considered suitable for the product as well. A chance constrained goal programming model has been designed after considering the parameter corresponding to reach for different media as random variables. The random variables in this case has been considered as values which have known mean and standard deviations. A case for an upcoming institution who are interested to advertise for its two years Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) programme to the different newspapers and television channels has been designed to illustrate the solution methodology.     

A note on article “A tolerance approach to the fuzzy goal programming problems with unbalanced triangular membership function”

Kim and Whang use a tolerance approach for solving fuzzy goal programming problems with unbalanced membership functions [J.S. Kim, K. Whang, A tolerance approach to the fuzzy goal programming problems with unbalanced triangular membership function, European Journal of Operational Research 107 (1998) 614–624]. In this note it is shown that some results in that article are incorrect. The necessary corrections are proposed.     

A multiple criteria decision making approach to manure management systems in the Netherlands

The intensification of livestock operations in the last few decades has resulted in an increased social concern over the environmental impacts of livestock operations and thus making appropriate manure management decisions increasingly important. A socially acceptable manure management system that simultaneously achieves the pressing environmental objectives while balancing the socio-economic welfare of farmers and society at large is needed. Manure management decisions involve a number of decision makers with different and conflicting views of what is acceptable in the context of sustainable development. This paper developed a decision-making tool based on a multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) approach to address the manure management problems in the Netherlands. This paper has demonstrated the application of compromise programming and goal programming to evaluate key trade-offs between socio-economic benefits and environmental sustainability of manure management systems while taking decision makers’ conflicting views of the different criteria into account. The proposed methodology is a useful tool in assisting decision makers and policy makers in designing policies that enhance the introduction of economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manure management systems.     

Combining simulation and goal programming for healthcare planning in a medical assessment unit

This paper describes a detailed simulation model for healthcare planning in a medical assessment unit (MAU) of a general hospital belonging to the national health service (NHS), UK. The MAU is established to improve the quality of care given to acute medical patients on admission, and to provide the organisational means of rapid assessment and investigation in order to avoid unnecessary admissions. The simulation model enables different scenarios to be tested to eliminate bottlenecks in order to achieve optimal clinical workflow. The link between goal programming (GP) and simulation for efficient resource planning is explored. A GP model is developed for trade-off analysis of the results obtained from the simulation. The implications of MAU management preferences to various objectives are presented.     

Fuzzy goal programming approach to multilevel programming problems

The purpose of this paper is to propose a procedure for solving multilevel programming problems in a large hierarchical decentralized organization through linear fuzzy goal programming approach. Here, the tolerance membership functions for the fuzzily described objectives of all levels as well as the control vectors of the higher level decision makers are defined by determining individual optimal solution of each of the level decision makers. Since the objectives are potentially conflicting in nature, a possible relaxation of the higher level decision is considered for avoiding decision deadlock. Then fuzzy goal programming approach is used for achieving highest degree of each of the membership goals by minimizing negative deviational variables. Sensitivity analysis with variation of tolerance values on decision vectors is performed to present how the solution is sensitive to the change of tolerance values. The efficiency of our concept is ascertained by comparing results with other fuzzy programming approaches.     

A fuzzy goal programming approach for mid-term assortment planning in supermarkets

We develop a fuzzy mixed integer non-linear goal programming model for the mid-term assortment planning of supermarkets in which three conflicting objectives namely profitability, customer service, and space utilization are incorporated. The items and brands in a supermarket compete to obtain more space and better shelf level. This model offers different service levels to loyal and disloyal customers, applies joint replenishment policy, and accounts for the holding time limitation of perishable items. We propose a fuzzy approach due to the imprecise nature of the goals’ target levels and priorities as well as critical data. A heuristic method inspiring by the problem-specific rules is developed to solve this complex model approximately within a reasonable time. Finally, the proposed approach is validated through several numerical examples and results are reported.     

A new approach to tactical and strategic planning in production-distribution networks

Today the most important concern of the managers is to make their firms viable in the competitive trade world. Managers are looking for effective tools for decision making in the complex business world. This paper presents a new mathematical model for strategic and tactical planning in a multiple-echelon, multiple-commodity production-distribution network. In the proposed model, different time resolutions are considered for strategic and tactical decisions. Also expansion of the network is planned based on cumulative net incomes. To illustrate applications of the proposed model as well as its performance based on the solution times, some hypothetical numerical examples have been generated and solved by CPLEX. Results show that in small and medium scale of instances, high quality solutions can be obtained using this solver, but for larger instances, some heuristics has to be designed to reduce solution time.     

Multiattribute electronic procurement using goal programming

One of the key challenges of current day electronic procurement systems is to enable procurement decisions transcend beyond a single attribute such as cost. Consequently, multiattribute procurement have emerged as an important research direction. In this paper, we develop a multiattribute e-procurement system for procuring large volume of a single item. Our system is motivated by an industrial procurement scenario for procuring raw material. The procurement scenario demands multiattribute bids, volume discount cost functions, inclusion of business constraints, and consideration of multiple criteria in bid evaluation. We develop a generic framework for an e-procurement system that meets the above requirements. The bid evaluation problem is formulated as a mixed linear integer multiple criteria optimization problem and goal programming is used as the solution technique. We present a case study for which we illustrate the proposed approach and a heuristic is proposed to handle the computational complexity arising out of the cost functions used in the bids.     

Satisfying optimization method based on goal programming for fuzzy multiple objective optimization problem

This paper proposes a satisfying optimization method based on goal programming for fuzzy multiple objective optimization problem. The aim of this presented approach is to make the more important objective achieving the higher desirable satisfying degree. For different fuzzy relations and fuzzy importance, the reformulated optimization models based on goal programming is proposed. Not only the satisfying results of all the objectives can be acquired, but also the fuzzy importance requirement can be simultaneously actualized. The balance between optimization and relative importance is realized. We demonstrate the efficiency, flexibility and sensitivity of the proposed method by numerical examples.