On the Development of a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Model for the Flowshop Sequencing Problem

This paper describes the development of a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for the standard N-job, M-machine flowshop sequencing problem. Based on an earlier all-integer model developed by Wagner, this MILP model has been used to solve optimally problems with as many as 25 jobs and as many as 10 machines. Variants of the standard flowshop model, including a variety of performance measures, are also presented. Computational experience involving the successful solution of over 175 flowshop problems is discussed, and suggestions for future research projects are offered.     

Minimizing the number of early jobs on a proportionate flowshop

A proportionate flowshop is a special case of the classical flowshop, where the job processing times are machine-independent. We study the problem of minimizing the number of early jobs in this machine setting. This objective function has hardly been investigated on a single machine, and never on a flowshop. We introduce an efficient iterative solution algorithm. In each iteration, a single job is moved to the first position (and is added to the set of early jobs), and the remaining jobs are rescheduled such that the maximum earliness is minimized. The algorithm guarantees an optimal solution in O(n³) time, where n is the number of jobs.     

Flowshop scheduling problem to minimize total completion time with random and bounded processing times

The flowshop scheduling problems with n jobs processed on two or three machines, and with two jobs processed on k machines are addressed where jobs have random and bounded processing times. The probability distributions of random processing times are unknown, and only the lower and upper bounds of processing times are given before scheduling. In such cases, there may not exist a unique schedule that remains optimal for all feasible realizations of the processing times, and therefore, a set of schedules has to be considered which dominates all other schedules for the given criterion. We obtain sufficient conditions when transposition of two jobs minimizes total completion time for the cases of two and three machines. The geometrical approach is utilized for flowshop problem with two jobs and k machines.     

A hybrid shifting bottleneck procedure algorithm for the parallel-machine job-shop scheduling problem

In practice, parallel-machine job-shop scheduling (PMJSS) is very useful in the development of standard modelling approaches and generic solution techniques for many real-world scheduling problems. In this paper, based on the analysis of structural properties in an extended disjunctive graph model, a hybrid shifting bottleneck procedure (HSBP) algorithm combined with Tabu Search (TS) metaheuristic algorithm is developed to deal with the PMJSS problem. The original-version shifting bottleneck procedure (SBP) algorithm for the job-shop scheduling (JSS) has been significantly improved to solve the PMJSS problem with four novelties: (i) a topological-sequence algorithm is proposed to decompose the PMJSS problem in a set of single-machine scheduling (SMS) and/or parallel-machine scheduling subproblems; (ii) a modified Carlier algorithm based on the proposed lemmas and the proofs is developed to solve the SMS subproblem; (iii) the Jackson rule is extended to solve the PMS subproblem; (iv) a TS metaheuristic algorithm is embedded under the framework of SBP to optimise the JSS and PMJSS cases. The computational experiments show that the proposed HSBP is very efficient in solving the JSS and PMJSS problems.     

A Common Generalization to Theorems on Set Systems with <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-intersections

In this paper, we provide a common generalization to the well-known Erdös–Ko–Rado Theorem, Frankl–Wilson Theorem, Alon–Babai–Suzuki Theorem, and Snevily Theorem on set systems with L-intersections. As a consequence, we derive a result which strengthens substantially the well-known theorem on set systems with k-wise L-intersections by Füredi and Sudakov [J. Combin. Theory, Ser. A, 105, 143–159 (2004)]. We will also derive similar results on L-intersecting families of subspaces of an n-dimensional vector space over a finite field F _q , where q is a prime power.     

The critical boundary RSOS <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>(3,5) model

We consider the critical nonunitary minimal model M(3, 5) with integrable boundaries and analyze the patterns of zeros of the eigenvalues of the transfer matrix and then determine the spectrum of the critical theory using the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) equations. Solving the TBA functional equation satisfied by the transfer matrices of the associated A₄restricted solid-on-solid Forrester–Baxter lattice model in regime III in the continuum scaling limit, we derive the integral TBA equations for all excitations in the (r, s) = (1, 1) sector and then determine their corresponding energies. We classify the excitations in terms of (m, n) systems.     

Solutions to the Constrained Flowshop Sequencing Problem

If the flowshop sequencing problem is constrained so that job profiles are maintained independently of other work on the shop, then a range of new problem solutions are possible. Using geometrical relationships between the cumulative process times, a slope matching method has been devised which generally provides better results than Palmer's method and Gupta's algorithm. Secondly, it has been possible to reformulate the flowshop sequencing problem in terms of the travelling salesman problem. This has enabled the performance of the slope matching, Palmer and Gupta methods to be compared against a non-heuristic solution. Finally, provided that expressing a job in terms of the slopes of the cumulative start and end times is satisfactory, this enables in n-job, M-machine flowshop to be converted into an equivalent n-job 2 machine flowshop to which the use of Johnson's method will provide optimal sequences.     

Two-stage assembly-type flowshop batch scheduling problem subject to a fixed job sequence

This paper discusses a two-stage assembly-type flowshop scheduling problem with batching considerations subject to a fixed job sequence. The two-stage assembly flowshop consists of m stage-1 parallel dedicated machines and a stage-2 assembly machine which processes the jobs in batches. Four regular performance metrics, namely, the total completion time, maximum lateness, total tardiness, and number of tardy jobs, are considered. The goal is to obtain an optimal batching decision for the predetermined job sequence at stage 2. This study presents a two-phase algorithm, which is developed by coupling a problem-transformation procedure with a dynamic program. The running time of the proposed algorithm is O(mn+n⁵), where n is the number of jobs.     

3<Emphasis Type="Italic">nj</Emphasis>-symbols and identities for <Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis>-Bessel functions

The 6j-symbols for representations of the q-deformed algebra of polynomials on \(\mathrm {SU}(2)\) are given by Jackson’s third q-Bessel functions. This interpretation leads to several summation identities for the q-Bessel functions. Multivariate q-Bessel functions are defined, which are shown to be limit cases of multivariate Askey–Wilson polynomials. The multivariate q-Bessel functions occur as 3nj-symbols.     

On distinct distances among points in general position and other related problems

A set of points in the plane is said to be in general position if no three of them are collinear and no four of them are cocircular. If a point set determines only distinct vectors, it is called parallelogram free. We show that there exist n-element point sets in the plane in general position, and parallelogram free, that determine only O(n ²/√log n) distinct distances. This answers a question of Erd?s, Hickerson and Pach. We then revisit an old problem of Erd?s: given any n points in the plane (or in d dimensions), how many of them can one select so that the distances which are determined are all distinct? — and provide (make explicit) some new bounds in one and two dimensions. Other related distance problems are also discussed.     

Kulish–Sklyanin-type models: Integrability and reductions

We start with a Riemann–Hilbert problem (RHP) related to BD.I-type symmetric spaces SO(2r + 1)/S(O(2r ? 2s+1) ? O(2s)), s ≥ 1. We consider two RHPs: the first is formulated on the real axis R in the complex-λ plane; the second, on R ? iR. The first RHP for s = 1 allows solving the Kulish–Sklyanin (KS) model; the second RHP is related to a new type of KS model. We consider an important example of nontrivial deep reductions of the KS model and show its effect on the scattering matrix. In particular, we obtain new two-component nonlinear Schrödinger equations. Finally, using the Wronski relations, we show that the inverse scattering method for KS models can be understood as generalized Fourier transforms. We thus find a way to characterize all the fundamental properties of KS models including the hierarchy of equations and the hierarchy of their Hamiltonian structures.     

Computational complexity of the original and extended diophantine Frobenius problem

We deduce the law of nonstationary recursion which makes it possible, for given a primitive set A = {a ₁,...,a _k }, k > 2, to construct an algorithm for finding the set of the numbers outside the additive semigroup generated by A. In particular, we obtain a new algorithm for determining the Frobenius numbers g(a ₁,...,a _k ). The computational complexity of these algorithms is estimated in terms of bit operations. We propose a two-stage reduction of the original primitive set to an equivalent primitive set that enables us to improve complexity estimates in the cases when the two-stage reduction leads to a substantial reduction of the order of the initial set.     

On Defining Sets of Full Designs with Block Size Three

A defining set of a t-(v, k, λ) design is a subcollection of its blocks which is contained in no other t-design with the given parameters, on the same point set. A minimal defining set is a defining set, none of whose proper subcollections is a defining set. The spectrum of minimal defining sets of a design D is the set {|M| | M is a minimal defining set of D}. We show that if a t-(v, k, λ) design D is contained in a design F, then for every minimal defining set d _D of D there exists a minimal defining set d _F of F such that \({d_D = d_F\cap D}\). The unique simple design with parameters \({{\left(v,k, {v-2\choose k-2}\right)}}\) is said to be the full design on v elements; it comprises all possible k-tuples on a v set. Every simple t-(v, k, λ) design is contained in a full design, so studying minimal defining sets of full designs gives valuable information about the minimal defining sets of all t-(v, k, λ) designs. This paper studies the minimal defining sets of full designs when t = 2 and k = 3. Several families of non-isomorphic minimal defining sets of these designs are found. For given v, a lower bound on the size of the smallest and an upper bound on the size of the largest minimal defining set are given. The existence of a continuous section of the spectrum comprising approximately v values is shown, where just two values were known previously.     

A new heuristic approach for the P-median problem

The Euclidean p-median problem is concerned with the decision of the locations for public service centres. Existing methods for the planar Euclidean p-median problems are capable of efficiently solving problems of relatively small scale. This paper proposes two new heuristic algorithms aiming at problems of large scale. Firstly, to reflect the different degrees of proximity to optimality, a new kind of local optimum called level-m optimum is defined. For a level-m optimum of a p-median problem, where m<p, each of its subsets containing m of the p partitions is a global optimum of the corresponding m-median subproblem. Starting from a conventional local optimum, the first new algorithm efficiently improves it to a level-2 optimum by applying an existing exact algorithm for solving the 2-median problem. The second new algorithm further improves it to a level-3 optimum by applying a new exact algorithm for solving the 3-median problem. Comparison based on experimental results confirms that the proposed algorithms are superior to the existing heuristics, especially in terms of solution quality.     

The optimal solution set of the interval linear programming problems

Several methods exist for solving the interval linear programming (ILP) problem. In most of these methods, we can only obtain the optimal value of the objective function of the ILP problem. In this paper we determine the optimal solution set of the ILP as the intersection of some regions, by the best and the worst case (BWC) methods, when the feasible solution components of the best problem are positive. First, we convert the ILP problem to the convex combination problem by coefficients 0 ≤ λ _j , μ _ij , μ _i  ≤ 1, for i = 1, 2, . . . , m and j = 1, 2, . . . , n. If for each i, j, μ _ij  = μ _i  = λ _j  = 0, then the best problem has been obtained (in case of minimization problem). We move from the best problem towards the worst problem by tiny variations of λ _j , μ _ij and μ _i from 0 to 1. Then we solve each of the obtained problems. All of the optimal solutions form a region that we call the optimal solution set of the ILP. Our aim is to determine this optimal solution set by the best and the worst problem constraints. We show that some theorems to validity of this optimal solution set.     

Bases of identities for semigroups of bounded rank transformations of a set

We complete the series of results by M. V. Sapir, M. V. Volkov and the author solving the Finite Basis Problem for semigroups of rank ≤ k transformations of a set, namely based on these results we prove that the semigroup T _k (X) of rank ≤ k transformations of a set X has no finite basis of identities if and only if k is a natural number and either k = 2 and |X| ∈ «3, 4» or k ≥ 3. A new method for constructing finite non-finitely based semigroups is developed. We prove that the semigroup of rank ≤ 2 transformations of a 4-element set has no finite basis of identities but that the problem of checking its identities is tractable (polynomial).     

Asymptotic behavior of the spectrum of one-dimensional vibrations in a layered medium consisting of elastic and Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic materials

For every algebraically closed field k of characteristic different from 2, we prove the following: (1) Finite-dimensional (not necessarily associative) k-algebras of general type of a fixed dimension, considered up to isomorphism, are parametrized by the values of a tuple of algebraically independent (over k) rational functions of the structure constants. (2) There exists an “algebraic normal form” to which the set of structure constants of every such algebra can be uniquely transformed by means of passing to its new basis—namely, there are two finite systems of nonconstant polynomials on the space of structure constants, {f_i}i∈I and {b_j}j∈J, such that the ideal generated by the set {f_i}i∈I is prime and, for every tuple c of structure constants satisfying the property b_j(c) ≠ 0 for all j ∈ J, there exists a unique new basis of this algebra in which the tuple c′ of its structure constants satisfies the property f_i(c′) = 0 for all i ∈ I.     

The Upper Connected Vertex Detour Monophonic Number of a Graph

For any vertex x in a connected graph G of order n ≥ 2, a set S _x ? V (G) is an x-detour monophonic set of G if each vertex v ∈ V (G) lies on an x-y detour monophonic path for some element y in S _x . The minimum cardinality of an x-detour monophonic set of G is the x-detour monophonic number of G, denoted by dm _x (G). A connected x-detour monophonic set of G is an x-detour monophonic set S _x such that the subgraph induced by S _x is connected. The minimum cardinality of a connected x-detour monophonic set of G is the connected x-detour monophonic number of G, denoted by cdm _x (G). A connected x-detour monophonic set S _x of G is called a minimal connected x-detour monophonic set if no proper subset of S _x is a connected x-detour monophonic set. The upper connected x-detour monophonic number of G, denoted by cdm⁺ _x (G), is defined to be the maximum cardinality of a minimal connected x-detour monophonic set of G. We determine bounds and exact values of these parameters for some special classes of graphs. We also prove that for positive integers r,d and k with 2 ≤ r ≤ d and k ≥ 2, there exists a connected graph G with monophonic radius r, monophonic diameter d and upper connected x-detour monophonic number k for some vertex x in G. Also, it is shown that for positive integers j,k,l and n with 2 ≤ j ≤ k ≤ l ≤ n - 3, there exists a connected graph G of order n with dm _x (G) = j,dm⁺ _x (G) = k and cdm⁺ _x (G) = l for some vertex x in G.     

Expanding operators for the independent set problem

The notion is introduced of an expanding operator for the independent set problem. This notion is a useful tool for the constructive formation of new cases with the efficient solvability of this problem in the family of hereditary classes of graphs and is applied to hereditary parts of the set Free({P ₅, C ₅}). It is proved that if for a connected graph G the problem is polynomial-time solvable in the class Free({P ₅, C ₅,G}) then it remains so in the class Free({P ₅, C ₅,G ○ \(\bar K_2 \), G ⊕ K _1,p ) for every p. We also find two new hereditary subsets of Free({P ₅, C ₅}) with polynomially solvable independent set problem that are not a corollary of applying the revealed operators.     

A Multiple Reorder Point Inventory Policy

This paper discusses the development and application of a multiple reorder inventory policy which can be stated as follows: reorder an optimal lot size Q when inventory (stock on hand) falls to R, R-Q, R-2Q,..., R-NQ; where R is the reorder level. If demands cause the inventory to fall below two reorder levels, say a jump from R+ ? to R-2Q+?′ where ? and ?′ < Q, an order for 2Q is placed. The policy is a form of (S,q) policy where the maximum stock level S = R + Q. The system is of particular value in cases where the coefficient of variation of lead time demand μ _l (μ _l = σ _l /λ _l )is large (say >0·5) and continuous inventory records are maintained. Tables, charts and nomographs to simplify clerical tasks can be obtained quite readily. In this formulation R and Q are not independent factors as in the usual Wilson formulation, but are obtained by minimizing a single cost functional subject to the constraint of a specified risk of out-of-stock condition or a specified level of service (Galliher and Simmond, 1957), (Morse et al., 1959). The particular application concerns the raw material inventories of a manufacturer of metal pressings who is required to offer “immediate service”. The demand distribution during the lead time closely approximates the exponential distribution, and lead times are constant for each raw material. The application of the multiple reorder policy results in a 30 to 35 per cent reduction in inventory for a 95 per cent service level. Measures of sensitivity and response are obtained, and the mean number of shortages is expressed in closed form. The policy is compared with the Wilson policy and shown to be more “effective” in that it results in lower inventories and a smaller number of orders for the case considered.