Vehicle routing via column generation

This paper explores an approximate method for solving a routing problem in a four-level distribution which has “double-ended” demand. Routes are represented as columns in a linear program and column generation is used to improve the solution by generating new routes. The generation of new routes is based on an LP sub-problem. Its solution is rounded down to integer values to insure its feasibility as a route for inclusion in the restricted master problem. Finally, an illustrative problem is solved.