Applying bi-random MODM model to navigation coordinated scheduling: a case study of Three Gorges Project

The aim of this paper is to deal with the optimal navigation coordinated scheduling (NCS) problem in ship transportation of the Three Gorges Project in China, i.e. the Three Gorges Dam and the Gezhouba Dam. The NCS includes operational scheduling for two five-step locks in Three Gorges Dam and three single-step locks in Gezhouba Dam. A birandom multiple objective decision-making model is first proposed for the NCS problem to cope with hybrid uncertain environment where twofold randomness exists in practice. Then, particle swarm optimization is applied to search for the optimal solution. Based on real execution data, the results generated by a computer validate effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm in solving large-scale practical problems is presented

The responsive reply chain: the influence of the positioning of decoupling points

Manufacturing supply chains have been challenged by high competition, dynamic, and stochastic conditions. They have to be constantly responsive in today’s ever-changing manufacturing environment. The proper positioning of decoupling points for material flow and information flow has a significant potential for increasing responsiveness in a supply chain. Positioning the material decoupling point as close to the end consumer as possible whilst the information decoupling point is positioned upstream is the key to the industries’ ability to reduce lead time and enhance performance in the dynamic behaviour of the supply chain. [Continues.

Modeling of Large-Scale Energy Systems; Proceedings of the IIASA/IFAC Symposium on Modeling of Large-Scale Energy Systems

The problem of the seventies was energy, and the business of modeling energy systems boomed. As models became more sophisticated, and as the international and intercontinental aspects of the energy problem became clearer, the boundaries of the energy systems being modeled grew to the point where it was useful to distinguish a special category of energy models: those dealing with large-scale energy systems. Practical experience in building and applying models for large-scale energy systems has been accumulating at a rapid rate in recent years. Thus, to contribute to communicating and assimilating some of the lessons learned in the seventies about modeling large-scale energy systems, the Systems Engineering Committee of IFAC (the International Federation of Automatic Control) and the Energy Systems Program at IIASA organized an international symposium on this subject. This volume contains 43 papers given at the symposium