An efficient algorithm for the location-allocation problem with rectangular regions

The location-allocation problem for existing facilities uniformly distributed over rectangular regions is treated for the case where the rectilinear norm is used. The new facilities are to be located such that the expected total weighted distance is minimized. Properties of the problem are discussed. A branch and bound algorithm is developed for the exact solution of the problem. Computational results are given for different sized problems.     

The estimation of P(x < Y) for distributions useful in life testing

In this paper the reliability function K = P(X < Y) has been estimated when X and Y follow gamma, exponential or bivariate exponential distributions. The paper is partly expository.     

An integer programming algorithm for portfolio selection with fixed charges

A mean-variance portfolio selection model with limited diversification is formulated in which transaction and management costs are incorporated as the sum of a linear cost and a fixed cost. The problem is a fixed charge integer programming problem solved by hypersurface search using dynamic programming. Fathoming is performed in the forward pass of dynamic programming so that values of the state variable which correspond to infeasible solutions are eliminated from the tables. This logic permits the solution of problems with 20–30 possible investments.     

Econometric forecasting via discounted least squares

Simple direct smoothing formulas are derived for updating coefficient estimates and forecasts in a discounted least squares model. These formulas are the natural extensions of R. G. Brown's well-known smoothing formulas to a general econometric setting with arbitrary explanatory time series. The recursive updating process and its forecast error properties are illustrated via a simple, yet realistic numerical example.     

Reliability applications of the relevation transform

It is shown that Krakowski's relevation transform generates the nonhomogeneous Poisson process in an analogous fashion to the way in which Stieltjes convolution generates the renewal process. Properties of failure rates and of inter-failure times are discussed and an application to warranty analysis is described.     

Cost analysis of pro rata and free-replacement warranties

This article examines the short run total costs and long run average costs of products under warranty. Formulae for both consumer cost under warranty and producer profit are derived. The results in the case of the pro rata warranty correct a mistake appearing in Blischke and Scheuer [5]. We also show that expected average cost to both the producer and the consumer of a product under warranty depends on both the mean of the product lifetime distribution and on its failure rate.     

Nonlinear integer programming for various forms of constraints

A theoretical and computational investigation is made of the performance of a dynamic-programming-based algorithm for nonlinear integer problems with various types of constraints. We include linear constraints, aggregated linear constraints, separable nonlinear constraints and constraints involving maxima and minima. Separability of the objective function is assumed. The new feature of the algorithm is that two types of fathoming or pruning are used to reduce the size of tables and number of computations: fathoming by bounds and fathoming by infeasibility.     

The logarithmic poisson gamma distribution: A model for leadtime demand

This paper considers an inventory system in which demand occurrences arise according to a stationary Poisson process, demand sizes at each occurrence follow a logarithmic distribution, and leadtimes are random variables with the gamma distribution. Both the exact and approximate distribution for leadtime demand are derived and computations are performed which compare the approximation to the exact distribution. The results have application to both repairable and consumable item inventory systems.