Optimal capacity in a coordinated supply chain

We consider a supply chain in which a retailer faces a stochastic demand, incurs backorder and inventory holding costs and uses a periodic review system to place orders from a manufacturer. The manufacturer must fill the entire order. The manufacturer incurs costs of overtime and undertime if the order deviates from the planned production capacity. We determine the optimal capacity for the manufacturer in case there is no coordination with the retailer as well as in case there is full coordination with the retailer. When there is no coordination the optimal capacity for the manufacturer is found by solving a newsvendor problem. When there is coordination, we present a dynamic programming formulation and establish that the optimal ordering policy for the retailer is characterized by two parameters. The optimal coordinated capacity for the manufacturer can then be obtained by solving a nonlinear programming problem. We present an efficient exact algorithm and a heuristic algorithm for computing the manufacturer's capacity. We discuss the impact of coordination on the supply chain cost as well as on the manufacturer's capacity. We also identify the situations in which coordination is most beneficial. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2008     

基于球齿轮的新型轮腿复合式移动平台设计研究

复合式移动系统是当前移动机器人研究的热点之一.总结了已有的一些轮-腿复合式移动系统的研究成果及结构特点,提出一种基于球齿轮机构的新型轮-腿复合式移动平台的结构设计方案,这种新型移动平台的轮腿机构具有不同于已有轮-腿复合式移动系统独特的运动特征,在结构上可实现"轮"、"腿"的真正融合,使得平台具有轮式、腿式和轮-腿复合三种移动模式,可实现直行、斜行、小半径转弯甚至原地转弯等多种运动姿态.对轮腿机构进行了计算机虚拟模型运动仿真研究,并对平台样机进行了姿态调整实验,结果表明这种新型移动平台能够实现设定的多种复杂运动姿态.     

Strategic capacity decision‐making in a stochastic manufacturing environment using real‐time approximate dynamic programming

In this study, we illustrate a real‐time approximate dynamic programming (RTADP) method for solving multistage capacity decision problems in a stochastic manufacturing environment, by using an exemplary three‐stage manufacturing system with recycle. The system is a moderate size queuing network, which experiences stochastic variations in demand and product yield. The dynamic capacity decision problem is formulated as a Markov decision process (MDP). The proposed RTADP method starts with a set of heuristics and learns a superior quality solution by interacting with the stochastic system via simulation. The curse‐of‐dimensionality associated with DP methods is alleviated by the adoption of several notions including “evolving set of relevant states,” for which the value function table is built and updated, “adaptive action set” for keeping track of attractive action candidates, and “nonparametric k nearest neighbor averager” for value function approximation. The performance of the learned solution is evaluated against (1) an “ideal” solution derived using a mixed integer programming (MIP) formulation, which assumes full knowledge of future realized values of the stochastic variables (2) a myopic heuristic solution, and (3) a sample path based rolling horizon MIP solution. The policy learned through the RTADP method turned out to be superior to polices of 2 and 3. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 2010     

一种基于低扩散通量分裂方法的WENO格式研究

将低扩散通量分裂格式(LDFSS)和加权基本无振荡格式(WENO)相结合,构造出一种混合格式,其中WENO格式用于物理量重构,而LDFSS用于通量分裂。采用这种格式对Riemann问题、钝头体高超声速无粘绕流流场进行了计算,并对超声速平板湍流边界层进行了混合LES/RANS模拟,计算结果表明:相对于采用Lax-Fridrichs分裂的WENO格式来说,这种混合格式对于激波和接触间断的分辨率更高,并且在标量保正性方面更优,收敛性更好;而相对于采用带有Minmod限制器的MUSCL方法进行物理量高阶重构的LDFSS格式来说,这种混合格式在混合模拟的计算中能够更好地反映湍流流场的脉动特性,计算得到的湍流速度脉动量的统计值更加准确。     

A misclassification cost‐minimizing evolutionary–neural classification approach

Machine learning algorithms that incorporate misclassification costs have recently received considerable attention. In this paper, we use the principles of evolution to develop and test an evolutionary/genetic algorithm (GA)‐based neural approach that incorporates asymmetric Type I and Type II error costs. Using simulated, real‐world medical and financial data sets, we compare the results of the proposed approach with other statistical, mathematical, and machine learning approaches, which include statistical linear discriminant analysis, back‐propagation artificial neural network, integrated cost preference‐based linear mathematical programming‐based minimize squared deviations, linear integrated cost preference‐based GA, decision trees (C 5.0, and CART), and inexpensive classification with expensive tests algorithm. Our results indicate that the proposed approach incorporating asymmetric error costs results in equal or lower holdout sample misclassification cost when compared with the other statistical, mathematical, and machine learning misclassification cost‐minimizing approaches. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006.     

提高消防经费使用效益之管见

当前,我国消防经费的规模随着消防事业的迅速发展正日益扩大。如何加强消防经费的管理,实现有限的经费效益最大化,确保消防部队的发展和建设显得尤为重要。通过分析现阶段消防经费管理和使用中存在的一些普遍问题,就提高消防部队经费使用效益问题,谈了几点意见。     

兵力展开问题研究

如何将基地的兵力以最短时间展开到多个阵地中,是运输问题中的一种。为解决此问题对著名的兵力展开问题进行了研究。建立了兵力展开问题的数学模型,此模型是一个混合整数规划模型。提出了一种求解方法,该方法可解决类似的混合整数规划问题。最后给出了一个实例。     

A branch‐and‐price algorithm for a 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, but it can be transformed into a linear integer programming model. We present a branch‐and‐price algorithm for the problem employing the disaggregated formulation, which has exponentially many columns denoting the feasible allocations of weapon systems to each target. A greedy‐style heuristic is used to get some initial columns to start the column generation. A branching strategy compatible with the pricing problem is also proposed. Computational results using randomly generated data show this approach is promising for the targeting problem. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

Integrated capacity,demand, and production planning with subcontracting and overtime options

Models for integrated production and demand planning decisions can serve to improve a producer's ability to effectively match demand requirements with production capabilities. In contexts with price‐sensitive demands, economies of scale in production, and multiple capacity options, such integrated planning problems can quickly become complex. To address these complexities, this paper provides profit‐maximizing production planning models for determining optimal demand and internal production capacity levels under price‐sensitive deterministic demands, with subcontracting and overtime options. The models determine a producer's optimal price, production, inventory, subcontracting, overtime, and internal capacity levels, while accounting for production economies of scale and capacity costs through concave cost functions. We use polyhedral properties and dynamic programming techniques to provide polynomial‐time solution approaches for obtaining an optimal solution for this class of problems when the internal capacity level is time‐invariant. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

Dynamic pricing in a dual‐market environment

This article is concerned with the determination of pricing strategies for a firm that in each period of a finite horizon receives replenishment quantities of a single product which it sells in two markets, for example, a long‐distance market and an on‐site market. The key difference between the two markets is that the long‐distance market provides for a one period delay in demand fulfillment. In contrast, on‐site orders must be filled immediately as the customer is at the physical on‐site location. We model the demands in consecutive periods as independent random variables and their distributions depend on the item's price in accordance with two general stochastic demand functions: additive or multiplicative. The firm uses a single pool of inventory to fulfill demands from both markets. We investigate properties of the structure of the dynamic pricing strategy that maximizes the total expected discounted profit over the finite time horizon, under fixed or controlled replenishment conditions. Further, we provide conditions under which one market may be the preferred outlet to sale over the other. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 62: 531–549, 2015