International Transactions in Operational Research 

About: International Transactions in Operational Research is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Supply chain & Integer programming. It has an ISSN identifier of 0969-6016. Over the lifetime, 1708 publication(s) have been published receiving 30384 citation(s).

Classical and modern heuristics for the vehicle routing problem

Abstract: This article is a survey of heuristics for the Vehicle Routing Problem. It is divided into two parts: classical and modern heuristics. The first part contains well-known schemes such as, the savings method, the sweep algorithm and various two-phase approaches. The second part is devoted to tabu search heuristics which have proved to be the most successful metaheuristic approach. Comparative computational results are presented.

Metaheuristics—the metaphor exposed

Abstract: In recent years, the field of combinatorial optimization has witnessed a true tsunami of “novel” metaheuristic methods, most of them based on a metaphor of some natural or man-made process. The behavior of virtually any species of insects, the flow of water, musicians playing together – it seems that no idea is too far-fetched to serve as inspiration to launch yet another metaheuristic. In this paper, we will argue that this line of research is threatening to lead the area of metaheuristics away from scientific rigor. We will examine the historical context that gave rise to the increasing use of metaphors as inspiration and justification for the development of new methods, discuss the reasons for the vulnerability of the metaheuristics field to this line of research, and point out its fallacies. At the same time, truly innovative research of high quality is being performed as well. We conclude the paper by discussing some of the properties of this research and by pointing out some of the most promising research avenues for the field of metaheuristics.

MACBETH — An Interactive Path Towards the Construction of Cardinal Value Functions

Abstract: The application of classical models and techniques for cardinal measurement of values usually requires a person (D) to answer very difficult questions. The MACBETH approach, presented in this paper, proposes a simple questioning procedure to ‘drive’ the interactive quantification of values through pairwise verbal judgements of difference of attractiveness between valuable elements of a set A. Technically, MACBETH uses a chain of four linear programs for assigning numbers to the elements of set A based upon the qualitative judgements expressed by D and to reveal possible sources of incoherence. In practice, this information is to be used as a basis for discussion and learning. MACBETH stands for M easuring A trractiveness by a C ategorical B ased E valuation T ec H nique.

From preparedness to partnerships: case study research on humanitarian logistics

Abstract: Disasters are on the rise, more complex, and donor support is increasingly unpredictable. In response to this trend humanitarian agencies are looking for more efficient and effective solutions. This paper discusses the evolution of supply chain management in disaster relief and the role of new players like the private sector. It is based on research conducted by the Humanitarian Research Group at INSEAD.

Operations Research in Healthcare: a survey

Abstract: Optimisation problems in Healthcare have received considerable attention for more than three decades. More recently, however, with decreasing birth rates in nearly all of the developed countries and increasing average longevity globally, optimisation issues in Healthcare have become noticeably important and attract keen interest from the Operations Research community. Over the years, attention has gradually expanded from resource allocation and strategic planning to include operational issues such as resource scheduling and treatment planning. This paper surveys several applications of Operations Research in the domain of Healthcare. In particular, the paper reviews key contributions addressing contemporary optimisation issues in this area. It highlights current research activities, focusing on a variety of optimisation problems as well as solution techniques used for solving the optimisation problems.