有交货时间限制的大规模实用下料问题

研究的是有交货时间限制的单一原材料下料问题(规模较大).对于一维下料问题,本文得到一个有各自交货时间的模型.针对该模型提出一种新的算法:DP贪婪算法.计算结果是总用料800根即可完成需求任务,材料利用率为99.6%.对于二维下料问题,在一维的基础上建立了二维的求解模型,运用我们自己设计的降维思想结合一维的DP贪婪算法,给出解决该模型的算法.计算结果是总用料451块即可完成需求任务,材料利用率位99.2%.算法设计时考虑了普遍的情况,所以算法在解决大多数实际下料问题,特别是大规模下料问题时是切实有效的.     

An algorithm for the two-dimensional assortment problem

In this paper we consider the two-dimensional assortment problem. This is the problem of choosing from a set of stock rectangles a subset which can be used for cutting into a number of smaller rectangular pieces. Constraints are imposed upon the number of such pieces which result from the cutting.A heuristic algorithm for the guillotine cutting version of the problem is developed based on a greedy procedure for generating two-dimensional cutting patterns, a linear program for choosing the cutting patterns to use and an interchange procedure to decide the best subset of stock rectangles to cut.Computational results are presented for a number of test problems which indicate that the algorithm developed produces good quality results both for assortment problems and for two-dimensional cutting problems.     

An iterative sequential heuristic procedure to a real-life 1.5-dimensional cutting stock problem

This paper addresses a real-life 1.5D cutting stock problem, which arises in a make-to-order plastic company. The problem is to choose a subset from the set of stock rectangles to be used for cutting into a number of smaller rectangular pieces so as to minimize total production cost and meet orders. The total production cost includes not only material wastage, as in traditional cutting stock problems, but also production time. A variety of factors are taken into account, like cutter knife changes, machine restrictions, due dates and other work in progress limitations. These restrictions make the combinatorial structure of the problem more complex. As a result, existing algorithms and mathematical models are no longer appropriate. Thus we developed a new 1.5D cutting stock model with multiple objectives and multi-constraints and solve this problem in an incomplete enumerative way. The computational results show that the solution procedure is easy to implement and works very well.     

The cutting stock problem for large sections in the iron and steel industries

The characteristics of a cutting stock problem for large sections in the iron and steel industries are as follows:(1) There is a variety of criterions such as maximizing yield and increasing effeciency of production lines. (2) A cutting stock problem is accompanied by an optimal stock selection problem. A two-phase algorithm is developed, using an heuristic method. This algorithm gives nearly optimal solutions in real time. It is applied to both batch-solving and on-line solving of one-dimensional cutting of large section. The new algorithm has played an important role in a large-section production system to increase the yield by approximately 2.5%.     

Heuristic and exact methods for the cutting sequencing problem

Cutting stock problems deal with the generation of a set of cutting patterns that minimizes waste. Sometimes it is also important to find the processing sequence of this set of patterns to minimize the maximum queue of partially cut orders. In such instances a cutting sequencing problem has to be solved. This paper presents a new mathematical model and a three-phase approach for the cutting sequencing problem. In the first phase, a greedy algorithm produces a good starting solution that is improved in the second phase by a tabu search, or a generalized local search procedure, while, in the last phase, the problem is optimally solved by an implicit enumeration procedure that uses the best solution previously found as an upper bound. Computing experience, based on 300 randomly generated problems, shows the good performance of the heuristic methods presented.     

Modeling multistage cutting stock problems

In multistage cutting stock problems (CSP) the cutting process is distributed over several successive stages. Every stage except the last one produces intermediate products. The list of intermediate products may be given or arbitrary. The goal is to minimize the total amount of material taken out of stock to cut finished products sufficient to meet customer demands. If the intermediate sizes are given, the column generation technique can be applied to multistage cutting problems. If the intermediate sizes are not given then another dimension is added to the problem complexity. We propose a special procedure for this case that dynamically generates both rows (intermediate sizes) and columns (patterns). We refer to this method as row-and-column generation. The method uses an auxiliary problem embedded into the frame of the revised simplex algorithm. It is a non-linear knapsack problem that can be solved efficiently. In contrast to the column generation method the developed technique cannot guarantee the optimal solution. However, the results of computational experiments are very promising and prove that the method is a valuable addition to the set of tools for modeling and solving multistage CSPs.     

Solving one-dimensional cutting stock problems exactly with a cutting plane algorithm

When solving the one-dimensional cutting stock problem (1D CSP) as an integer linear programming problem one has to overcome computational difficulties arising from the integrality condition and a huge number of variables. In the Gilmore–Gomory approach the corresponding continuous relaxation is solved via column generation techniques followed by an appropriate rounding of the in general non-integer solution. Obviously, there is no guarantee of obtaining an optimal solution in this way but it is extremely effective in practice. However, in two- and three-dimensional cutting stock problems the heuristics are not so good which necessitates the research of effective exact methods. In this paper we present an exact solution approach for the 1D CSP which is based on a combination of the cutting plane method and the column generation technique. Results of extensive computational experiments are reported.     

A multi-objective programming approach to 1.5-dimensional assortment problem

In this paper we study a 1.5-dimensional cutting stock and assortment problem which includes determination of the number of different widths of roll stocks to be maintained as inventory and determination of how these roll stocks should be cut by choosing the optimal cutting pattern combinations. We propose a new multi-objective mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model in the form of simultaneously minimization two contradicting objectives related to the trim loss cost and the combined inventory cost in order to fulfill a given set of cutting orders. An equivalent nonlinear version and a particular case related to the situation when a producer is interested in choosing only a few number of types among all possible roll sizes, have also been considered. A new method called the conic scalarization is proposed for scalarizing non-convex multi-objective problems and several experimental tests are reported in order to demonstrate the validity of the developed modeling and solving approaches.     

Complexity analysis of the analytic center cutting plane method that uses multiple cuts

We analyze the complexity of the analytic center cutting plane or column generation algorithm for solving general convex problems defined by a separation oracle. The oracle is called at the analytic center of a polytope, which contains a solution set and is given by the intersection of the linear inequalities previously generated from the oracle. If the center is not in the solution set, separating hyperplanes will be placed through the center to shrink the containing polytope. While the complexity result has been recently established for the algorithm when one cutting plane is placed in each iteration, the result remains open when multiple cuts are added. Moreover, adding multiple cuts actually is a key to practical effectiveness in solving many problems and it presents theoretical difficulties in analyzing cutting plane methods. In this paper, we show that the analytic center cutting plane algorithm, with multiple cuts added in each iteration, still is a fully polynomial approximation algorithm. The research of the author is supported by NSF grant DDM-9207347, an Iowa Business School Summer Grant, and a University of Iowa Obermann Fellowship.     

Alternative configurations for cutting machines in a tube cutting mill

In a steel tube mill where an endless stream of steel tube is supplied from a manufacturing facility, trim waste is never made regardless of cutting patterns used and the standard cutting stock problem seems meaningless. Therefore, the continuous stock cutting problem with setup is introduced to minimize the sum of cutting time and pattern changing time to meet the given demand. We propose a new configuration of cutting machines to achieve higher production efficiency, namely the open-ended configuration as opposed to the traditional closed-ended configuration, thereby two variants of the problem are defined. We propose linear formulations for both problems using binary expansion of the number of pieces of different types in a pattern. Furthermore, we define the time for pattern change as a linear function of the number of knives used in the pattern to be more realistic. Computational studies suggest that the open-ended cutting machine may improve the production time by up to 44% and that our linear formulations are more efficient than the existing ones.     

An integrated approach to the one-dimensional cutting stock problem in coronary stent manufacturing

This paper presents a two-stage approach for pattern generation and cutting plan determination of the one-dimensional cutting stock problem. Calculation of the total number of patterns that will be cut and generation of the cutting patterns are performed in the first stage. On the other hand, the second stage determines the cutting plan. The proposed approach makes use of two separate integer linear programming models. One of these models is employed by the first stage to generate the cutting patterns through a heuristic procedure with the objective of minimizing trim loss. The cutting patterns obtained from Stage 1 are then fed into the second stage. In this stage, another integer linear programming model is solved to form a cutting plan. The objective of this model is to minimize a generalized total cost function consisting of material inputs, number of setups, labor hours and overdue time; subject to demand requirements, material availability, regular and overtime availability, and due date constraints. The study also demonstrates an implementation of the proposed approach in a coronary stent manufacturer. The case study focuses on the cutting phase of the manufacturing process followed by manual cleaning and quality control activities. The experiments show that the proposed approach is suitable to the conditions and requirements of the company.     

An algorithm for a cutting stock problem on a strip

A cutting stock problem is formulated as follows: a set of rectangular pieces must be cut from a set of sheets, so as to minimize total waste. In our problem the pieces are requested in large quantities and the set of sheets are long rolls of material. For this class of problems we have developed a fast heuristic based on partial enumeration of all feasible patterns. We then tested the effectiveness on a set of test problems ranging from practical to random instances. Finally, the algorithm has been applied to check the asymptotic behaviour of the solution when a continuous stream of pieces is requested and cutting decisions are to be made while orders are still arriving.     

Multi-job Cutting Stock Problem with Due Dates and Release Dates

The common feature of cutting stock problems is to cut some form of stock materials to produce smaller pieces of materials in quantities matching orders received. Most research on cutting stock problems focuses on either generating cutting patterns to minimize wastage or determining the required number of stock materials to meet orders. In this paper, we examine a variation of cutting stock problems that arises in some industries where meeting orders' due dates is more important than minimizing wastage of materials. We develop two two-dimensional cutting stock models with due date and release date constraints. Since adding due dates and release dates makes the traditional cutting stock problem even more difficult to solve, we develop both LP-based and non-LP-based heuristics to obtain good solutions. The computational results show that the solution procedures are easy to implement and work very well.     

The one-dimensional cutting stock problem with usable leftover – A heuristic approach

In this work we consider a one-dimensional cutting stock problem in which the non-used material in the cutting patterns may be used in the future, if large enough. This feature introduces difficulties in comparing solutions of the cutting problem, for example, up to what extent a minimum leftover solution is the most interesting one when the leftover may be used. Some desirable characteristics of good solutions are defined and classical heuristic methods are modified, so that cutting patterns with undesirable leftover (not large enough to be used, nor too small to be acceptable waste) are redesigned. The performance of the modified heuristics is observed by solving instances from the literature, practical instances and randomly generated instances.     

Mathematical model and method of searching for a local extremum for the non-convex oriented polygons allocation problem

This work deals with the problem of optimal allocation of objects of a so-called irregular form. The objects are allocated on a strip of given width and with defects. This problem is insufficiently studied, but it is typical for many industries and is also interesting for developing the theory of solving cutting and packing problems. An analytical model of the problem using only continuous variables is written in terms of classical mathematical programming, and it is constructed on the basis of the original theory of φ-functions and structures of linear inequalities. The presented theory allows one to easily describe the conditions of mutual non-overlapping of objects and their allocation in the stock region. The exact method for searching a local minimum of the problem from any feasible initial point is based on the application of the active set strategy ideas. A number of examples of solving practical problems are considered.     

Characterization and modelling of guillotine constraints

This paper focuses on guillotine cuts which often arise in real-life cutting stock problems. In order to construct a solution verifying guillotine constraints, the first step is to know how to determine whether a given cutting pattern is a guillotine pattern. For this purpose, we first characterize guillotine patterns by proving a necessary and sufficient condition. Then, we propose a polynomial algorithm to check this condition. Based on this mathematical characterization of guillotine patterns, we then show that guillotine constraints can be formulated into linear inequalities. The performance of the algorithm to check guillotine cutting patterns is evaluated by means of computational results.     

An integer programming model for two- and three-stage two-dimensional cutting stock problems

In this paper, an integer programming model for two-dimensional cutting stock problems is proposed. In the problems addressed, it is intended to cut a set of small rectangular items of given sizes from a set of larger rectangular plates in such a way that the total number of used plates is minimized.     

The one-dimensional cutting stock problem with usable leftovers – A survey

In this article, we review published studies that consider the solution of the one-dimensional cutting stock problem (1DCSP) with the possibility of using leftovers to meet future demands, if long enough. The one-dimensional cutting stock problem with usable leftovers (1DCSPUL) is a problem frequently encountered in practical settings but often, it is not dealt with in an explicit manner. For each work reviewed, we present the application, the mathematical model if one is proposed and comments on the computational results obtained. The approaches are organized into three classes: heuristics, item-oriented, or cutting pattern-oriented.     

Solving real-world cutting stock-problems in the paper industry: Mathematical approaches,experience and challenges

We discuss cutting stock problems (CSPs) from the perspective of the paper industry and the financial impact they make. Exact solution approaches and heuristics have been used for decades to support cutting stock decisions in that industry. We have developed polylithic solution techniques integrated in our ERP system to solve a variety of cutting stock problems occurring in real world problems. Among them is the simultaneous minimization of the number of rolls and the number of patterns while not allowing any overproduction. For two cases, CSPs minimizing underproduction and CSPs with master rolls of different widths and availability, we have developed new column generation approaches. The methods are numerically tested using real world data instances. An assembly of current solved and unsolved standard and non-standard CSPs at the forefront of research are put in perspective.     

Approximate and exact algorithms for the double-constrained two-dimensional guillotine cutting stock problem

In this paper, we propose approximate and exact algorithms for the double constrained two-dimensional guillotine cutting stock problem (DCTDC). The approximate algorithm is a two-stage procedure. The first stage attempts to produce a starting feasible solution to DCTDC by solving a single constrained two dimensional cutting problem, CDTC. If the solution to CTDC is not feasible to DCTDC, the second stage is used to eliminate non-feasibility. The exact algorithm is a branch-and-bound that uses efficient lower and upper bounding schemes. It starts with a lower bound reached by the approximate two-stage algorithm. At each internal node of the branching tree, a tailored upper bound is obtained by solving (relaxed) knapsack problems. To speed up the branch and bound, we implement, in addition to ordered data structures of lists, symmetry, duplicate, and non-feasibility detection strategies which fathom some unnecessary branches. We evaluate the performance of the algorithm on different problem instances which can become benchmark problems for the cutting and packing literature.