Optimization Algorithms for the Inventory Routing Problem

At this point there are already three variants of optimization algorithms, oriented at the Inventory Routing Problem, based on the GRASP metaheuristic capable of solving instances of one vehicle and one product with reasonable GAP and multi products one vehicle with more GAP than desired for most of the instances. The algorithms were developed in c++ and are being compared with a benchmark for the Multi-vehicle Multi-product Inventory Routing Problem. Tests are being made to access computational times affinity with solution improvement. The developed work is within the planned schedule able to consult at http://gnomo.fe.up.pt/~ee10089/SIEM

DEVELOPING AN OPTIMAL MODEL FOR INFANT HOME VISITATION

The United States, Great Britain, Denmark, Canada and many other countries have accepted home visitation (HV) as a promising strategy for interventions for infants after births and for their mothers. Prior HV studies have focused on theoretical foundations, evaluations of programs, cost/benefit analysis and cost estimation by using hospital/payer/insurance data to prove its effectiveness and high cost. As governments and private organizations continue to fund HVs, it is an opportune time to develop and formulate operations research (OR) models of HV coverage, quality and cost so they might be used in program implementation as done for adult home healthcare (HHC) and home care (HC). This dissertation introduces a new modeling approach and proposes a solution methodology which helps to determine the schedules of follow-up nursing care providers (NCP) to visit discharged patients in order to minimize total follow-up cost at the planning and operational level, and to improve the quality of care. The model improves the quality of treatment of infants and mothers during pregnancy, after birth and discharge from the hospital by maximizing the quality of assignment of the right NCP with the right skill, nurse type and years of experience to the right patient with the specific health need. The modeling approach is based on a mixed-interger programming (MIP) formulation that represents the dynamics of the system comprising aspects such as visit schedules and total program’s cost while satisfying a variety of requirements modeled as constraints. The model is tested and validated with real life data. Computational results for the formulation for real life instances of the problem with the Nurse Family Partnership Program (NFP) obtained using IBM CPLEX optimization Studio version 12.6.1 are presented. The intent is to enhance the administrative and deployment process of HV programs, minimize risks, allow planners to explore the best scenarios under different conditions related to cost, treatment and coverage requirements, and highlight the best course of action when assigning NCPs to clients. Results show significant cost savings and enhanced quality treatment in several cases studied and tested. Finally, the study identifies and presents fertile avenues for future research for this field

Gestaltung nachhaltiger Logistik-Konzepte im urbanen Wirtschaftsverkehr : Entscheidungsunterstützung mit Optimierungsmodellen

Die vorliegende kumulative Dissertation stellt die Zusammenfassung von zehn wissenschaftlichen Artikeln im Bereich des urbanen Wirtschaftsverkehrs dar. Dabei geht es grundsätzlich um die Untersuchung neuer Logistik-Konzepte als Lösungsansatz für eine gleichzeitige Berücksichtigung ökonomischer und ökologischer Ziele bei der Ausübung von Transportaktivitäten in urbanen Räumen. Dazu werden mathematische Optimierungsmodelle und Entscheidungsunterstützungssysteme präsentiert, welche den Zielkonflikt zwischen einer Kosten- und einer Emissionsminimierung adressieren. Diese sind durch die Anwendung von Methoden des Operations Research und der Informationssystem-Forschung entstanden. Darüber hinaus erfolgt die kritische Reflektion über die behandelten Themen, die genutzten Forschungsmethoden und die entwickelten Lösungsansätze. Drei Themen werden in der Dissertation ausführlich dargestellt: (1) Nachhaltige urbane Paketzustellung: Es wird ein Optimierungsmodell präsentiert, welches in ein Entscheidungsunterstützungssystem eingebettet ist und die bestmögliche Gestaltung eines alternativen Logistik-Konzepts für die Zustellung von Paketen in Städten ermöglicht. Dabei geht es um die Bestimmung der Positionen von Mikro-Depots als Orte der Zwischenlagerung sowie der dazugehörigen Fahrzeugflotte. (2) Nachhaltige e-Grocery Zustellung: Für die Lieferung von online bestellten Verbrauchsgütern wie Lebensmitteln oder Haushaltsartikeln wird ein neues Logistik-Konzept entworfen. Hierbei erfolgt eine Verkürzung der letzten Meile durch den Einsatz von temperierten Umschlagspunkten sowie eine Integration von Lastenfahrrädern und Kunden-Selbstabholungen. Ein dreistufiger Lösungsansatz ermöglicht die Optimierung der Standorte der Umschlagspunkten sowie der Fahrzeugrouten. (3) Individuelle Routenoptimierung: Es wird ein Entscheidungsunterstützungssystem zur Modellierung sowie Lösung von individualisierbaren Tourenplanungsproblemen präsentiert. Das flexible Tool ermöglicht die Abbildung von benutzerspezifischen Problemcharakteristika und die Umwandlung in ein entsprechendes Optimierungsmodell, sodass diverse Branchen bei der Routenplanung unterstützt werden können

Intelligent Systems

This book is dedicated to intelligent systems of broad-spectrum application, such as personal and social biosafety or use of intelligent sensory micro-nanosystems such as "e-nose", "e-tongue" and "e-eye". In addition to that, effective acquiring information, knowledge management and improved knowledge transfer in any media, as well as modeling its information content using meta-and hyper heuristics and semantic reasoning all benefit from the systems covered in this book. Intelligent systems can also be applied in education and generating the intelligent distributed eLearning architecture, as well as in a large number of technical fields, such as industrial design, manufacturing and utilization, e.g., in precision agriculture, cartography, electric power distribution systems, intelligent building management systems, drilling operations etc. Furthermore, decision making using fuzzy logic models, computational recognition of comprehension uncertainty and the joint synthesis of goals and means of intelligent behavior biosystems, as well as diagnostic and human support in the healthcare environment have also been made easier

Fuelling the zero-emissions road freight of the future: routing of mobile fuellers

The future of zero-emissions road freight is closely tied to the sufficient availability of new and clean fuel options such as electricity and Hydrogen. In goods distribution using Electric Commercial Vehicles (ECVs) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCVs) a major challenge in the transition period would pertain to their limited autonomy and scarce and unevenly distributed refuelling stations. One viable solution to facilitate and speed up the adoption of ECVs/HFCVs by logistics, however, is to get the fuel to the point where it is needed (instead of diverting the route of delivery vehicles to refuelling stations) using "Mobile Fuellers (MFs)". These are mobile battery swapping/recharging vans or mobile Hydrogen fuellers that can travel to a running ECV/HFCV to provide the fuel they require to complete their delivery routes at a rendezvous time and space. In this presentation, new vehicle routing models will be presented for a third party company that provides MF services. In the proposed problem variant, the MF provider company receives routing plans of multiple customer companies and has to design routes for a fleet of capacitated MFs that have to synchronise their routes with the running vehicles to deliver the required amount of fuel on-the-fly. This presentation will discuss and compare several mathematical models based on different business models and collaborative logistics scenarios

Mathematical Methods and Operation Research in Logistics, Project Planning, and Scheduling

In the last decade, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 brought flexible supply chains and flexible design projects to the forefront. Nevertheless, the recent pandemic, the accompanying economic problems, and the resulting supply problems have further increased the role of logistics and supply chains. Therefore, planning and scheduling procedures that can respond flexibly to changed circumstances have become more valuable both in logistics and projects. There are already several competing criteria of project and logistic process planning and scheduling that need to be reconciled. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that even more emphasis needs to be placed on taking potential risks into account. Flexibility and resilience are emphasized in all decision-making processes, including the scheduling of logistic processes, activities, and projects

Dynamics in Logistics

This open access book highlights the interdisciplinary aspects of logistics research. Featuring empirical, methodological, and practice-oriented articles, it addresses the modelling, planning, optimization and control of processes. Chiefly focusing on supply chains, logistics networks, production systems, and systems and facilities for material flows, the respective contributions combine research on classical supply chain management, digitalized business processes, production engineering, electrical engineering, computer science and mathematical optimization. To celebrate 25 years of interdisciplinary and collaborative research conducted at the Bremen Research Cluster for Dynamics in Logistics (LogDynamics), in this book hand-picked experts currently or formerly affiliated with the Cluster provide retrospectives, present cutting-edge research, and outline future research directions