Bicriteria product design optimization: An efficient solution procedure using AND/OR trees

Competitive imperatives are causing manufacturing firms to consider multiple criteria when designing products. However, current methods to deal with multiple criteria in product design are ad hoc in nature. In this paper we present a systematic procedure to efficiently solve bicriteria product design optimization problems. We first present a modeling framework, the AND/OR tree, which permits a simplified representation of product design optimization problems. We then show how product design optimization problems on AND/OR trees can be framed as network design problems on a special graph—a directed series‐parallel graph. We develop an enumerative solution algorithm for the bicriteria problem that requires as a subroutine the solution of the parametric shortest path problem. Although this parametric problem is hard on general graphs, we show that it is polynomially solvable on the series‐parallel graph. As a result we develop an efficient solution algorithm for the product design optimization problem that does not require the use of complex and expensive linear/integer programming solvers. As a byproduct of the solution algorithm, sensitivity analysis for product design optimization is also efficiently performed under this framework. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 49: 574–592, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/nav.10031     

The probability of the existence of a feasible flow in a stochastic transportation network

Stochastic transportation networks arise in various real world applications, for which the probability of the existence of a feasible flow is regarded as an important performance measure. Although the necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a feasible flow represented by an exponential number of inequalities is a well‐known result in the literature, the computation of the probability of all such inequalities being satisfied jointly is a daunting challenge. The state‐of‐the‐art approach of Prékopa and Boros, Operat Res 39 (1991) 119–129 approximates this probability by giving its lower and upper bounds using a two‐part procedure. The first part eliminates all redundant inequalities and the second gives the lower and upper bounds of the probability by solving two well‐defined linear programs with the inputs obtained from the first part. Unfortunately, the first part may still leave many non‐redundant inequalities. In this case, it would be very time consuming to compute the inputs for the second part even for small‐sized networks. In this paper, we first present a model that can be used to eliminate all redundant inequalities and give the corresponding computational results for the same numerical examples used in Prékopa and Boros, Operat Res 39 (1991) 119–129. We also show how to improve the lower and upper bounds of the probability using the multitree and hypermultitree, respectively. Furthermore, we propose an exact solution approach based on the state space decomposition to compute the probability. We derive a feasible state from a state space and then decompose the space into several disjoint subspaces iteratively. The probability is equal to the sum of the probabilities in these subspaces. We use the 8‐node and 15‐node network examples in Prékopa and Boros, Operat Res 39 (1991) 119–129 and the Sioux‐Falls network with 24 nodes to show that the space decomposition algorithm can obtain the exact probability of these classical examples efficiently. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 63: 479–491, 2016     

Expected time delay in multi‐item inventory systems with correlated demands

This paper considers multi‐item inventory systems where a customer order may require several different items (i.e., demands are correlated across items) and customer satisfaction is measured by the time delays seen by the customers. Most inventory models on time delay in the literature assume each demand only requires one item (i.e., demands are not correlated across items or are independent). In this paper, we derive an exact expression for the expected total time delay. We show that when items are actually correlated, assuming items are independent leads to an overestimate of the total time delay. However, (1) it is extremely difficult in practice to obtain the demand information for all demand types (especially in a system with tens of thousands of part numbers), and (2) the problem becomes too complicated to be of practical interest when the correlation is considered. We then explore the possibility of including the demand information partially and develop bounds for the time delays. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 671–688, 1999     

Exact analysis of (R,s, S) inventory control systems with lost sales and zero lead time

We study an (R, s, S) inventory control policy with stochastic demand, lost sales, zero lead‐time and a target service level to be satisfied. The system is modeled as a discrete time Markov chain for which we present a novel approach to derive exact closed‐form solutions for the limiting distribution of the on‐hand inventory level at the end of a review period, given the reorder level (s) and order‐up‐to level (S). We then establish a relationship between the limiting distributions for adjacent values of the reorder point that is used in an efficient recursive algorithm to determine the optimal parameter values of the (R, s, S) replenishment policy. The algorithm is easy to implement and entails less effort than solving the steady‐state equations for the corresponding Markov model. Point‐of‐use hospital inventory systems share the essential characteristics of the inventory system we model, and a case study using real data from such a system shows that with our approach, optimal policies with significant savings in inventory management effort are easily obtained for a large family of items.     

The network redesign problem for access telecommunications networks

The network redesign problem attempts to design an optimal network that serves both existing and new demands. In addition to using spare capacity on existing network facilities and deploying new facilities, the model allows for rearrangement of existing demand units. As rearrangements mean reassigning existing demand units, at a cost, to different facilities, they may lead to disconnecting of uneconomical existing facilities, resulting in significant savings. The model is applied to an access network, where the demands from many sources need to be routed to a single destination, using either low‐capacity or high‐capacity facilities. Demand from any location can be routed to the destination either directly or through one other demand location. Low‐capacity facilities can be used between any pair of locations, whereas high‐capacity facilities are used only between demand locations and the destination. We present a new modeling approach to such problems. The model is described as a network flow problem, where each demand location is represented by multiple nodes associated with demands, low‐capacity and high‐capacity facilities, and rearrangements. Each link has a capacity and a cost per unit flow parameters. Some of the links also have a fixed‐charge cost. The resulting network flow model is formulated as a mixed integer program, and solved by a heuristic and a commercially available software. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 487–506, 1999     

Minimizing sums and products of linear fractional functions over a polytope

In this paper, we develop efficient deterministic algorithms for globally minimizing the sum and the product of several linear fractional functions over a polytope. We will show that an elaborate implementation of an outer approximation algorithm applied to the master problem generated by a parametric transformation of the objective function serves as an efficient method for calculating global minima of these nonconvex minimization problems if the number of linear fractional terms in the objective function is less than four or five. It will be shown that the Charnes–Cooper transformation plays an essential role in solving these problems. Also a simple bounding technique using linear multiplicative programming techniques has remarkable effects on structured problems. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 583–596, 1999     

Comparison between constant‐stress and step‐stress accelerated life tests under Time Constraint

By running life tests at higher stress levels than normal operating conditions, accelerated life testing (ALT) quickly yields information on the lifetime distribution of a test unit. The lifetime at the design stress is then estimated through extrapolation using a regression model. In constant‐stress testing, a unit is tested at a fixed stress level until failure or the termination time point of test, whereas step‐stress testing allows the experimenter to gradually increase the stress levels at some prefixed time points during the test. In this work, the optimal k‐level constant‐stress and step‐stress ALTs are compared for the exponential failure data under complete sampling and Type‐I censoring. The objective is to quantify the advantage of using the step‐stress testing relative to the constant‐stress one. Assuming a log‐linear life–stress relationship with the cumulative exposure model for the effect of changing stress in step‐stress testing, the optimal design points are determined under C/D/A‐optimality criteria. The efficiency of step‐stress testing to constant‐stress one is then discussed in terms of the ratio of optimal objective functions based on the information matrix. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 00: 000–000, 2013     

An (s,S) model for inventory with exponential lifetimes and renewal demands

Inventory control of products with finite lifetimes is important in many modern business organizations. It has been an important and difficult research subject. Here, we study the (s, S) continuous review model for items with an exponential random lifetime and a general renewal demand process through a Markov process. We derive a fundamental rate conservation theorem and show that all the other system performance measures can be obtained easily through the expected reorder cycle length. This leads to a simple expression for the total expected long run cost rate function in terms of the expected reorder cycle length. Subsequently, we derive formulas for computing the expected cycle lengths for the general renewal demand as well as for a large class of demands characterized by the phase type interdemand time distribution. We show analytically when the cost as a function of the reorder level is monotone, concave, or convex. We also show analytically that, depending on the behavior of the expected reorder cycle, the cost as a function of the order‐up level is either monotone increasing or unimodal. These analytical properties enable us to understand the problem and make the subsequent numerical optimization much easier. Numerical studies confirm and illustrate some of the analytical properties. The results also demonstrate the impact of various parameters on the optimal policy and the cost. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 39–56, 1999     

The impact of inventory information distortion due to customer order cancellations

In this paper we study the impact of cancellations of customer orders on an inventory system. We develop a periodic review (s, S) inventory model with Poisson demands, deterministic demand leadtimes and supply leadtimes. When no set up cost is present for replenishment, the behavior of the system cost can be studied analytically. For the case with a fixed set up cost, we derive the operating characteristics of the model via an embedded Markov chain analysis. Based on this, we formulate the total cost function and suggest a two‐phase approach to optimization. Our model can be used to compute cancellation fees and to evaluate the impacts of various conditions of cancellation. We find that cancellations, as major sources of inventory information distortion, increase total system costs, and the magnitude of the cost impact depends on the probability of cancellation and the expected cancellation time. Other relevant lessons and insights are also discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 213–231, 1999     

Sojourn times in G/M/1 fork‐join networks

We consider a processing network in which jobs arrive at a fork‐node according to a renewal process. Each job requires the completion of m tasks, which are instantaneously assigned by the fork‐node to m task‐processing nodes that operate like G/M/1 queueing stations. The job is completed when all of its m tasks are finished. The sojourn time (or response time) of a job in this G/M/1 fork‐join network is the total time it takes to complete the m tasks. Our main result is a closed‐form approximation of the sojourn‐time distribution of a job that arrives in equilibrium. This is obtained by the use of bounds, properties of D/M/1 and M/M/1 fork‐join networks, and exploratory simulations. Statistical tests show that our approximation distributions are good fits for the sojourn‐time distributions obtained from simulations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2008     

Lagrangian relaxation approach to the targeting problem

In this paper, we consider a new weapon–target allocation problem with the objective of minimizing the overall firing cost. The problem is formulated as a nonlinear integer programming model. We applied Lagrangian relaxation and a branch‐and‐bound method to the problem after transforming the nonlinear constraints into linear ones. An efficient primal heuristic is developed to find a feasible solution to the problem to facilitate the procedure. In the branch‐and‐bound method, three different branching rules are considered and the performances are evaluated. Computational results using randomly generated data are presented. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 640–653, 1999     

CON/SLK due date assignment and scheduling on a single machine with two agents

We consider scheduling problems involving two agents (agents A and B), each having a set of jobs that compete for the use of a common machine to process their respective jobs. The due dates of the A‐jobs are decision variables, which are determined by using the common (CON) or slack (SLK) due date assignment methods. Each agent wants to minimize a certain performance criterion depending on the completion times of its jobs only. Under each due date assignment method, the criterion of agent A is always the same, namely an integrated criterion consisting of the due date assignment cost and the weighted number of tardy jobs. Several different criteria are considered for agent B, including the maxima of regular functions (associated with each job), the total (weighted) completion time, and the weighted number of tardy jobs. The overall objective is to minimize the performance criterion of agent A, while keeping the objective value of agent B no greater than a given limit. We analyze the computational complexity, and devise polynomial or pseudo‐polynomial dynamic programming algorithms for the considered problems. We also convert, if viable, any of the devised pseudopolynomial dynamic programming algorithms into a fully polynomial‐time approximation scheme. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 63: 416–429, 2016     

An interactive approach to multicriteria sorting for quasiconcave value functions

In this article, we develop an interactive algorithm to place alternatives in ordered preference classes for a decision maker (DM) with an increasing quasiconcave value function. Such value functions are quite general in that they include linear and concave value functions. Our aim is to elicit sorting information from the DM as few times as possible; our algorithm places other alternatives using previous responses from the DM utilizing properties of quasiconcave value functions. As an application, we sort 81 global MBA programs into preference classes using criteria such as alumni career progress, idea generation, and diversity. We study the performance of our proposed algorithm, when we change the number of criteria, number of alternatives, and introduce response errors. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 61: 447–457, 2014     

Age replacement policies in two time scales

We develop and estimate optimal age replacement policies for devices whose age is measured in two time scales. For example, the age of a jet engine can be measured in the number of flight hours and the number of landings. Under a single‐scale age replacement policy, a device is replaced at age τ or upon failure, whichever occurs first. We show that a natural generalization to two scales is to replace nonfailed devices when their usage path crosses the boundary of a two‐dimensional region M, where M is a lower set with respect to the matrix partial order. For lifetimes measured in two scales, we consider devices that age along linear usage paths. We generalize the single‐scale long‐run average cost, estimate optimal two‐scale policies, and give an example. We note that these policies are strongly consistent estimators of the true optimal policies under mild conditions, and study small‐sample behavior using simulation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 50: 592–613, 2003.     

Algorithm to solve a chance‐constrained network capacity design problem with stochastic demands and finite support

We consider the problem of determining the capacity to assign to each arc in a given network, subject to uncertainty in the supply and/or demand of each node. This design problem underlies many real‐world applications, such as the design of power transmission and telecommunications networks. We first consider the case where a set of supply/demand scenarios are provided, and we must determine the minimum‐cost set of arc capacities such that a feasible flow exists for each scenario. We briefly review existing theoretical approaches to solving this problem and explore implementation strategies to reduce run times. With this as a foundation, our primary focus is on a chance‐constrained version of the problem in which α% of the scenarios must be feasible under the chosen capacity, where α is a user‐defined parameter and the specific scenarios to be satisfied are not predetermined. We describe an algorithm which utilizes a separation routine for identifying violated cut‐sets which can solve the problem to optimality, and we present computational results. We also present a novel greedy algorithm, our primary contribution, which can be used to solve for a high quality heuristic solution. We present computational analysis to evaluate the performance of our proposed approaches. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 63: 236–246, 2016     

Contractual agreements for coordination and vendor‐managed delivery under explicit transportation considerations

We consider the coordination problem between a vendor and a buyer operating under generalized replenishment costs that include fixed costs as well as stepwise freight costs. We study the stochastic demand, single‐period setting where the buyer must decide on the order quantity to satisfy random demand for a single item with a short product life cycle. The full order for the cycle is placed before the cycle begins and no additional orders are accepted by the vendor. Due to the nonrecurring nature of the problem, the vendor's replenishment quantity is determined by the buyer's order quantity. Consequently, by using an appropriate pricing schedule to influence the buyer's ordering behavior, there is an opportunity for the vendor to achieve substantial savings from transportation expenses, which are represented in the generalized replenishment cost function. For the problem of interest, we prove that the vendor's expected profit is not increasing in buyer's order quantity. Therefore, unlike the earlier work in the area, it is not necessarily profitable for the vendor to encourage larger order quantities. Using this nontraditional result, we demonstrate that the concept of economies of scale may or may not work by identifying the cases where the vendor can increase his/her profits either by increasing or decreasing the buyer's order quantity. We prove useful properties of the expected profit functions in the centralized and decentralized models of the problem, and we utilize these properties to develop alternative incentive schemes for win–win solutions. Our analysis allows us to quantify the value of coordination and, hence, to identify additional opportunities for the vendor to improve his/her profits by potentially turning a nonprofitable transaction into a profitable one through the use of an appropriate tariff schedule or a vendor‐managed delivery contract. We demonstrate that financial gain associated with these opportunities is truly tangible under a vendor‐managed delivery arrangement that potentially improves the centralized solution. Although we take the viewpoint of supply chain coordination and our goal is to provide insights about the effect of transportation considerations on the channel coordination objective and contractual agreements, the paper also contributes to the literature by analyzing and developing efficient approaches for solving the centralized problem with stepwise freight costs in the single‐period setting. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006     

Single‐warehouse multi‐retailer inventory systems with full truckload shipments

We consider a multi‐stage inventory system composed of a single warehouse that receives a single product from a single supplier and replenishes the inventory of n retailers through direct shipments. Fixed costs are incurred for each truck dispatched and all trucks have the same capacity limit. Costs are stationary, or more generally monotone as in Lippman (Management Sci 16, 1969, 118–138). Demands for the n retailers over a planning horizon of T periods are given. The objective is to find the shipment quantities over the planning horizon to satisfy all demands at minimum system‐wide inventory and transportation costs without backlogging. Using the structural properties of optimal solutions, we develop (1) an O(T²) algorithm for the single‐stage dynamic lot sizing problem; (2) an O(T³) algorithm for the case of a single‐warehouse single‐retailer system; and (3) a nested shortest‐path algorithm for the single‐warehouse multi‐retailer problem that runs in polynomial time for a given number of retailers. To overcome the computational burden when the number of retailers is large, we propose aggregated and disaggregated Lagrangian decomposition methods that make use of the structural properties and the efficient single‐stage algorithm. Computational experiments show the effectiveness of these algorithms and the gains associated with coordinated versus decentralized systems. Finally, we show that the decentralized solution is asymptotically optimal. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 2009     

Bayesian inference for a Lanchester type combat model

We undertake inference for a stochastic form of the Lanchester combat model. In particular, given battle data, we assess the type of battle that occurred and whether or not it makes any difference to the number of casualties if an army is attacking or defending. Our approach is Bayesian and we use modern computational techniques to fit the model. We illustrate our method using data from the Ardennes campaign. We compare our results with previous analyses of these data by Bracken and Fricker. Our conclusions are somewhat different to those of Bracken. Where he suggests that a linear law is appropriate, we show that the logarithmic or linear‐logarithmic laws fit better. We note however that the basic Lanchester modeling assumptions do not hold for the Ardennes data. Using Fricker's modified data, we show that although his “super‐logarithmic” law fits best, the linear, linear‐logarithmic, and logarithmic laws cannot be ruled out. We suggest that Bayesian methods can be used to make inference for battles in progress. We point out a number of advantages: Prior information from experts or previous battles can be incorporated; predictions of future casualties are easily made; more complex models can be analysed using stochastic simulation techniques. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 47: 541–558, 2000     

Reliability of linear multistate multiple sliding window systems

This paper proposes a new model that generalizes the linear consecutive k‐out‐of‐r‐from‐n:F system to multistate case with multiple failure criteria. In this model (named linear multistate multiple sliding window system) the system consists of n linearly ordered multistate elements (MEs). Each ME can have different states: from complete failure up to perfect functioning. A performance rate is associated with each state. Several functions are defined for a set of integer numbers ρ in such a way that for each r ∈ ρ corresponding function f_r produces negative values if the combination of performance rates of r consecutive MEs corresponds to the unacceptable state of the system. The system fails if at least one of functions f_r for any r consecutive MEs for r ∈ ρ produces a negative value. An algorithm for system reliability evaluation is suggested which is based on an extended universal moment generating function. Examples of system reliability evaluation are presented. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005.