Showing papers in "Naval Research Logistics Quarterly in 1980"

Benders' partitioning scheme applied to a new formulation of the quadratic assignment problem

Abstract: In this paper we present a new formulation of the quadratic assignment problem. This is done by transforming the quadratic objective function into a linear objective function by introducing a number of new variables and constraints. The resulting problem is a 0-1 linear integer program with a highly specialized structure. This permits the use of the partitioning scheme of Benders where only the original variables need be considered. The algorithm described thus iterates between two problems. The master problem is a pure 0-1 integer program, and the subproblem is a transportation problem whose optimal solution is shown to be readily available from the master problem in closed form. Computational experience on problems available in the literature is provided.

A dynamic inventory system with recycling

Abstract: This paper deals with a periodic review inventory system in which a constant proportion of stock issued to meet demand each period feeds back into the inventory after a fixed number of periods. Various applications of the model are discussed, including blood bank management and the control of reparable item inventories. We assume that on hand inventory is subject to proportional decay. Demands in successive periods are assumed to be independent identically distributed random variables. The functional equation defining an optimal policy is formulated and a myopic base stock approximation is developed. This myopic policy is shown to be optimal for the case where the feedback delay is equal to one period. Both cost and ordering decision comparisons for optimal and myopic policies are carried out numerically for a delay time of two periods over a wide range of input parameter values.

Scheduling coupled tasks

Abstract: Consider a set of task pairs coupled in time: a first (initial) and second (completion) tasks of known durations with a specified time between them. If the operator or machine performing these tasks is able to process only one at a time, scheduling is necessary to insure that no overlap occurs. This problem has a particular application to production scheduling, transportation, and radar operations (send-receive pulses are ideal examples of time-linked tasks requiring scheduling). This article discusses several candidate techniques for schedule determination, and these are evaluated in a specific radar scheduling application.

Analysis of data from life-test experiments under an exponential model

Abstract: This paper discusses situations in which the distribution of a lifetime response variable T is taken to depend upon a vector x of regressor variables. We specifically consider the case in which T, given x, has an exponential distribution, and in which x represents levels of fixed factors in an experimental design. Methods of analyzing data under this type of model are discussed, with maximum likelihood and least squares methods being presented and compared.

The United States Coast Guard Computer-Assisted Search Planning system (CASP)

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the Computer-Assisted Search Planning (CASP) system developed for the United States Coast Guard. The CASP information processing methodology is based upon Monte Carlo simulation to obtain an initial probability distribution for target location and to update this distribution to account for drift due to currents and winds. A multiple scenario approach is employed to generate the initial probability distribution. Bayesian updating is used to reflect negative information obtained from unsuccessful search. The principal output of the CASP system is a sequence of probability “maps” which display the current target location probability distributions throughout the time period of interest. CASP also provides guidance for allocating search effort based upon optimal search theory.

The M/G/1 Queue with Instantaneous, Bernoulli Feedback.

Abstract: : This paper is concerned with several random processes that occur within the class of M/G/1 queues with instantaneous feedback in which the feedback decision process is a Bernoulli process. Such systems in the case G=M are the simplest, non-trivial examples of Jackson networks. Indeed, they are so simple that they are usually dismissed from consideration in queueing network theory as being obvious. It will be shown that far from being obvious they exhibit some important, unexpected properties whose implications raise some interesting questions about Jackson networks and their application. In particular, Jackson observed that in his networks the vector valued queue length process behaved as if the component processes were independent, M/M/1 systems. Since those results appeared there has developed a mythology to explain them. These arguments usually rest on three sets of results that are well known in random point process theory: superposition, thinning, and stretching. By examining the network flow, it will be shown that the application of these results are inappropriate to queueing network with instantaneous, Bernoulli feedback. Their flows are considerably more complicated than one expects based on such arguments and one is left to ponder what the Jackson results mean to queueing network decomposition.

On a search for a moving target

Abstract: We consider the problem of searching for a target that moves in discrete time and space according to some Markovian process. At each time, a searcher attempts to detect the target. If the searcher's action at each time is such as to maximize his chances of immediate detection, we call his strategy “myopic.” We provide a computationally useful necessary condition for optimality, and use it to provide an example wherein the myopic strategy is not optimal.

The dynamic transportation problem: A survey

Abstract: The dynamic transportation problem is a transportation problem over time. That is, a problem of selecting at each instant of time t, the optimal flow of commodities from various sources to various sinks in a given network so as to minimize the total cost of transportation subject to some supply and demand constraints. While the earliest formulation of the problem dates back to 1958 as a problem of finding the maximal flow through a dynamic network in a given time, the problem has received wider attention only in the last ten years. During these years, the problem has been tackled by network techniques, linear programming, dynamic programming, combinational methods, nonlinear programming and finally, the optimal control theory. This paper is an up-to-date survey of the various analyses of the problem along with a critical discussion, comparison, and extensions of various formulations and techniques used. The survey concludes with a number of important suggestions for future work.

Optimal location of a facility relative to area demands

Abstract: This paper deals with the Weber single-facility location problem where the demands are not only points but may be areas as well. It provides an iterative procedure for solving the problem with lp distances when p > 1 (a method of obtaining the exact solution when p = 1 and distances are thus rectangular already exists). The special case where the weight densities in the areas are uniform and the areas are rectangles or circles results in a modified iterative process that is computationally much faster. This method can be extended to the simultaneous location of several facilities.

Statistical Analysis of the Output Data from Terminating Simulations.

Abstract: In this paper we precisely define the two types of simulations (terminating and steady-state) with regard to analysis of simulation output and discuss some common measures of performance for each type. In addition, we conclude, on the basis of discussions with many simulation practitioners, that both types of simulations are important in practice. This is contrary to the impression one gets from reading the simulation literature, where the steady-state case is almost exclusively considered. Although analyses of terminating simulations are considerably easier than are those of steady-state simulations, they have not received a careful treatment in the literature. We discuss and give empirical results for fixed sample size, relative width, and absolute width procedures that can be used for constructing confidence intervals for measures of performance in the terminating case.

Optimal maintenance-repair policies for the machine repair problem

Abstract: We consider a model with M + N identical machines. As many as N of these can be working at any given time and the others act as standby spares. Working machines fail at exponential rate λ, spares fail at exponential rale γ, and failed machines are repaired at exponential rate μ. The control variables are λ. μ, and the number of removable repairman, S, to be operated at any given time. Using the criterion of total expected discounted cost, we show that λ, S, and μ are monotonic functions of the number of failed machines M, N, the discount factor, and for the finite time horizon model, the amount of time remaining.

A note on determining operating strategies for probabilistic vehicle routing

Abstract: The stochastic vehicle routing problem is a problem of current importance and research interest. Applications include schoolbus routing, municipal waste collection, subscription bus scheduling, daily delivery of dairy goods, and a host of related transportation and distribution activities. In this paper, we assume that routes for vehicles have already been generated and we focus on determining operating strategies. That is, under what conditions should a driver return to the central depot in order to replenish his supply? We present a dynamic programming recursion which addresses this question and we show that the optimal policy is of a rather simple form. Finally, an algorithm and example illustrate the policy.

The use of dynamic programming methodology for the solution of a class of nonlinear programming problems

Abstract: This paper presents an application of a method for finding the global solution to a problem in integers with a separable objective function of a very general form. This report shows that there is a relationship between an integer problem with a separable nonlinear objective function and many constraints and a series of nonlinear problems with only a single constraint, each of which can be solved sequentially using dynamic programming. The first solution to any of the individual smaller problems that satisfies the original constraints in addition, will be the optimal solution to the multiply-constrained problem.

Partially controlled demand and inventory control: An additive model

Abstract: The primary goal of this paper is to establish properties of the inventory and advertising policy minimizing the expected discounted cost over a finite horizon in a dynamic nonstationary inventory model with random demand which is influenced by the level of goodwill Under linearization of the cost associated with the maximum inventory and the advertising effect on demand, the model is shown to be equivalent to an inventory model with disposal Many results of this paper are extended to cover convex ordering cost of inventory and time lag in delivery of stocks

On the reliability, availability and bayes confidence intervals for multicomponent systems

Abstract: The problem of computing reliability and availability and their associated confidence limits for multi-component systems has appeared often in the literature. This problem arises where some or all of the component reliabilities and availabilities are statistical estimates (random variables) from test and other data. The problem of computing confidence limits has generally been considered difficult and treated only on a case-by-case basis. This paper deals with Bayes confidence limits on reliability and availability for a more general class of systems than previously considered including, as special cases, series-parallel and standby systems applications. The posterior distributions obtained are exact in theory and their numerical evaluation is limited only by computing resources, data representation and round-off in calculations. This paper collects and generalizes previous results of the authors and others. The methods presented in this paper apply both to reliability and availability analysis. The conceptual development requires only that system reliability or availability be probabilities defined in terms acceptable for a particular application. The emphasis is on Bayes Analysis and the determination of the posterior distribution functions. Having these, the calculation of point estimates and confidence limits is routine. This paper includes several examples of estimating system reliability and confidence limits based on observed component test data. Also included is an example of the numerical procedure for computing Bayes confidence limits for the reliability of a system consisting of N failure independent components connected in series. Both an exact and a new approximate numerical procedure for computing point and interval estimates of reliability are presented. A comparison is made of the results obtained from the two procedures. It is shown that the approximation is entirely sufficient for most reliability engineering analysis.

Analyzing availability using transfer function models and cross spectral analysis

Abstract: If we look at the literature of reliability and life testing we do not see much on the use of the powerful methods of time series analysis. In this paper we show how the methods of multivariate time series analysis can be used in a novel way to investigate the interrelationships between a series of operating (running) times and a series of maintenance (down) times of a complex system. Specifically, we apply the techniques of cross spectral analysis to help us obtain a Box-Jenkins type transfer function model for the running times and the down times of a nuclear reactor. A knowledge of the interrelationships between the running times and the down times is useful for an evaluation of maintenance policies, for replacement policy decisions, and for evaluating the availability and the readiness of complex systems.

Solving multifacility location problems involving euclidean distances

Abstract: This paper considers the problem of locating multiple new facilities in order to minimize a total cost function consisting of the sum of weighted Euclidean distances among the new facilities and between the new and existing facilities, the locations of which are known. A new procedure is derived from a set of results pertaining to necessary conditions for a minimum of the objective function. The results from a number of sample problems which have been executed on a programmed version of this algorithm are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the new technique.

Sequencing independent jobs with a single resource

Abstract: This paper examines problems of sequencing n jobs for processing by a single resource to minimize a function of job completion times, when the availability of the resource varies over time. A number of well-known results for single-machine problems which can be applied with little or no modification to the corresponding variable-resource problems are given. However, it is shown that the problem of minimizing the weighted sum of completion times provides an exception.

A single period model for a multiproduct perishable inventory system with economic substitution

Abstract: This paper develops a single period model for a specific class of multiproduct perishable inventory systems where demands are interdependent. This class of inventory systems has the property that there is economic substitution between products. It is shown that the optimal policy has the economic substitution property, and that the rate of substitution is age dependent. The model serves as a generalization of a theorem discovered by Ignall and Veinott.

On the generation of deep disjunctive cutting planes

Abstract: In this paper we address the question of deriving deep cuts for nonconvex disjunctive programs. These problems include logical constraints which restrict the variables to at least one of a finite number of constraint sets. Based on the works of Balas. Glover, and Jeroslow, we examine the set of valid inequalities or cuts which one may derive in this context, and defining reasonable criteria to measure depth of a cut we demonstrate how one may obtain the “deepest” cut. The analysis covers the case where each constraint set in the logical statement has only one constraint and is also extended for the case where each of these constraint sets may have more than one constraint.

Reliability growth of repairable systems

Abstract: This paper considers the problem of modeling the reliability of a repairable system or device that is experiencing reliability improvement. Such a situation arises when system failure modes are gradually being corrected by a test-fix-test-fix procedure, which may include design changes. A dynamic reliability model for this process is discussed and statistical techniques are derived for estimating the model parameters and for testing the goodness-of-fit to observed data. The reliability model analyzed was first proposed as a graphical technique known as Duane plots, but can also be viewed as a nonhomogeneous Poisson process with a particular mean value function.

Optimality conditions for convex semi‐infinite programming problems

Abstract: This paper gives characterization of optimal Solutions for convex semiinfinite programming problems. These characterizations are free of a constraint qualification assumption. Thus they overcome the deficiencies of the semiinfinite versions of the Fritz John and the Kuhn-Tucker theories, which give only necessary or sufficient conditions for optimality, but not both.

A note on the optimal replacement time of damaged devices

Abstract: Abdel Hameed and Shimi [1] in a recent paper considered a shock model with additive damage. This note generalizes the work of Abdel Hameed and Shimi by showing that the a-priori restriction to replacement at a shock time made in [1] is unnecessary.

Test selection for a mass screeening program

Abstract: Periodic mass screening is the scheduled application of a test to all members of a population to provide early detection of a randomly occurring defect or disease. This paper considers periodic mass screening with particular reference to the imperfect capacity of the test to detect an existing defect and the associated problem of selecting the kind of test to use. Alternative kinds of tests differ with respect to their reliability characteristics and their cost per application. Two kinds of imperfect test reliability are considered. In the first case, the probability that the test will detect an existing defect is constant over all values of elapsed time since the incidence of the defect. In the second case, the test will detect the defect if, and only if, the lapsed time since incidence exceeds a critical threshold T which characterizes the test. The cost of delayed detection is an arbitrary increasing function (the “disutility function”) of the duration of the delay. Expressions for the long-run expected disutility per unit time are derived for the above two cases along with results concerning the best choice of type of test (where the decision rules make reference to characteristics of the disutility function).

A network flow approach for capacity expansion problems with two facility types

Abstract: A deterministic capacity expansion model for two facility types with a finite number of discrete time periods is described. The model generalizes previous work by allowing for capacity disposals, in addition to capacity expansions and conversions from one facility type to the other. Furthermore, shortages of capacity are allowed and upper bounds on both shortages and idle capacities can be imposed. The demand increments for additional capacity of any type in any time period can be negative. All cost functions are assumed to be piecewise, concave and nondecreasing away from zero. The model is formulated as a shortest path problem for an acyclic network, and an efficient search procedure is developed to determine the costs associated with the links of this network.

The role of internal storage capacity in fixed cycle production systems

Abstract: The reliability of a serial production line is optimized with respect to the location of a single buffer. The problem was earlier defined and solved by Soyster and Toof for the special case of an even number of machines all having equal probability of failure. In this paper we generalize the results for any number of machines and remove the restriction of identical machine reliabilities. In addition, an analysis of multibuffer systems is presented with a closed form solution for the reliability when both the number of buffers and their capacity is limited. For the general multibuffer system we present an approach for determining system reliability.

A note on integer linear fractional programming

Abstract: This note consists of developing a method for enforcing additional constraints to linear fractional programs and showing its usefulness in solving integer linear fractional programs.

On a class of nash‐solvable bimatrix games and some related nash subsets

Abstract: This work is concerned with a particular class of bimatrix games, the set of equilibrium points of which games possess many of the properties of solutions to zero-sum games, including susceptibility to solution by linear programming. Results in a more general setting are also included. Some of the results are believed to constitute interesting potential additions to elementary courses in game theory.

On the distribution of the optimal value for a class of stochastic geometric programs

Abstract: An approach is presented for obtaining the moments and distribution of the optimal value for a class of prototype stochastic geometric programs with log-normally distributed cost coefficients. It is assumed for each set of values taken on by the cost coefficients that the resulting deterministic primal program is superconsistent and soluble. It is also required that the corresponding dual program has a unique optimal point with all positive components. It is indicated how one can apply the results obtained under the above assumptions to stochastic programs whose corresponding deterministic dual programs need not satisfy the above-mentioned uniqueness and positivity requirements.

Auxiliary procedures for solving long transportation problems

Abstract: An efficient auxiliary algorithm for solving transportation problems, based on a necessary but not sufficient condition for optimum, is presented.