Coordination mechanisms for a three‐stage reverse supply chain to increase profitable returns

In this article, we consider a generic electronic product that can be remanufactured or recycled at the end of its life cycle to generate new profit. We first describe the product return process and then present a customer segmentation model to capture consumers' different behaviors with respect to product return so that the retailer can work more effectively to increase the return volume. In regard to the collaboration between the retailer and the manufacturer, we explore a revenue‐sharing coordination mechanism for achieving a win‐win outcome. The optimality and sensitivity of the critical parameters in four strategies are obtained and examined both theoretically and numerically, which generate insights on how to manage an efficient consumer‐retailer‐manufacturer reverse supply chain, as well as on the feasibility of simplifying such a three‐stage chain structure. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2013     

双浮体波浪能转换装置中重心布置对波浪能吸收影响分析

提出一种基于横摇运动的双浮体波浪能转换装置,利用水面浮体与水下浮体之间的相对横摇运动实现对波浪能的吸收。在保持水下浮体稳定的前提下,水面浮体的横摇运动决定了整个装置对波浪能吸收情况。水面浮体的横摇运动受其横摇固有频率的影响,主要是重心布置。为了合理选择水面浮体的重心位置,采用数值分析的方法对箱型浮体在长峰不规则波下的工作情况进行分析,讨论重心布置对波浪能吸收的影响以及对PTO参数选择的影响。结果表明,重心的布置可改变波浪能吸收的频段,重心布置越低,可吸收的波浪能频段越广,越有利于波浪能的吸收。     

Analysis of algorithms for two‐stage flowshops with multi‐processor task flexibility

In this article we introduce a 2‐machine flowshop with processing flexibility. Two processing modes are available for each task: namely, processing by the designated processor, and processing simultaneously by both processors. The objective studied is makespan minimization. This production environment is encountered in repetitive manufacturing shops equipped with processors that have the flexibility to execute orders either individually or in coordination. In the latter case, the product designer exploits processing synergies between two processors so as to execute a particular task much faster than a dedicated processor. This type of flowshop environment is also encountered in labor‐intensive assembly lines where products moving downstream can be processed either in the designated assembly stations or by pulling together the work teams of adjacent stations. This scheduling problem requires determining the mode of operation of each task, and the subsequent scheduling that preserves the flowshop constraints. We show that the problem is ordinary NP‐complete and obtain an optimal solution using a dynamic programming algorithm with considerable computational requirements for medium and large problems. Then, we present a number of dynamic programming relaxations and analyze their worst‐case error performance. Finally, we present a polynomial time heuristic with worst‐case error performance comparable to that of the dynamic programming relaxations. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.     

Waypoint analysis for command and control

Command and Control (C2) in a military setting can be epitomized in battles‐of‐old when commanders would seek high ground to gain superior spatial‐temporal information; from this vantage point, decisions were made and relayed to units in the field. Although the fundamentals remain, technology has changed the practice of C2; for example, enemy units may be observed remotely, with instruments of varying positional accuracy. A basic problem in C2 is the ability to track an enemy object in the battlespace and to forecast its future position; the (extended) Kalman filter provides a straightforward solution. The problem changes fundamentally if one assumes that the moving object is headed for an (unknown) location, or waypoint. This article is concerned with the new problem of estimation of such a waypoint, for which we use Bayesian statistical prediction. The computational burden is greater than an ad hoc regression‐based estimate, which we also develop, but the Bayesian approach has a big advantage in that it yields both a predictor and a measure of its variability. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004     

Single machine scheduling with a restricted rate‐modifying activity

In this paper we consider the problem of scheduling a set of jobs on a single machine on which a rate‐modifying activity may be performed. The rate‐modifying activity is an activity that changes the production rate of the machine. So the processing time of a job is a variable, which depends on whether it is scheduled before or after the rate‐modifying activity. We assume that the rate‐modifying activity can take place only at certain predetermined time points, which is a constrained case of a similar problem discussed in the literature. The decisions under consideration are whether and when to schedule the rate‐modifying activity, and how to sequence the jobs in order to minimize some objectives. We study the problems of minimizing makespan and total completion time. We first analyze the computational complexity of both problems for most of the possible versions. The analysis shows that the problems are NP‐hard even for some special cases. Furthermore, for the NP‐hard cases of the makespan problem, we present a pseudo‐polynomial time optimal algorithm and a fully polynomial time approximation scheme. For the total completion time problem, we provide a pseudo‐polynomial time optimal algorithm for the case with agreeable modifying rates. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005     

基于虚拟布站和运动目标信源的时差控制模型

针对时差定位无源雷达战场目标模拟问题,构建了基于虚拟长基线布站和运动目标信源的时差控制模型,设计的新型时差调制模式,可满足时差信号生成设备的时差范围和精度要求,突破了时差定位无源雷达零基线状态无法定位的技术难题。基于该模型的战场目标模拟系统,实现了携有高精度时差信息的多路射频信号输出,能够为该类装备日常操作演练提供电磁环境支撑。     

Batch scheduling with step‐deteriorating processing times to minimize flowtime

Both topics of batch scheduling and of scheduling deteriorating jobs have been very popular among researchers in the last two decades. In this article, we study a model combining these two topics. We consider a classical batch scheduling model with unit‐jobs and batch‐independent setup times, and a model of step‐deterioration of processing times. The objective function is minimum flowtime. The optimal solution of the relaxed version (allowing non‐integer batch sizes) is shown to have a unique structure consisting of two consecutive decreasing arithmetic sequences of batch sizes. We also introduce a simple and efficient rounding procedure that guarantees integer batch sizes. The entire solution procedure requires an effort of O(n) (where nis the number of jobs.) © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2012     

Minimizing makespan on a single batch processing machine with nonidentical job sizes

We deal with the problem of minimizing makespan on a single batch processing machine. In this problem, each job has both processing time and size (capacity requirement). The batch processing machine can process a number of jobs simultaneously as long as the total size of these jobs being processed does not exceed the machine capacity. The processing time of a batch is just the processing time of the longest job in the batch. An approximation algorithm with worst‐case ratio 3/2 is given for the version where the processing times of large jobs (with sizes greater than 1/2) are not less than those of small jobs (with sizes not greater than 1/2). This result is the best possible unless P = NP. For the general case, we propose an approximation algorithm with worst‐case ratio 7/4. A number of heuristics by Uzosy are also analyzed and compared. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 48: 226–240, 2001     

Case‐based reasoning and improved adaptive search for project scheduling

Most scheduling problems are notoriously intractable, so the majority of algorithms for them are heuristic in nature. Priority rule‐based methods still constitute the most important class of these heuristics. Of these, in turn, parametrized biased random sampling methods have attracted particular interest, due to the fact that they outperform all other priority rule‐based methods known. Yet, even the “best” such algorithms are unable to relate to the full range of instances of a problem: Usually there will exist instances on which other algorithms do better. We maintain that asking for the one best algorithm for a problem may be asking too much. The recently proposed concept of control schemes, which refers to algorithmic schemes allowing to steer parametrized algorithms, opens up ways to refine existing algorithms in this regard and improve their effectiveness considerably. We extend this approach by integrating heuristics and case‐based reasoning (CBR), an approach that has been successfully used in artificial intelligence applications. Using the resource‐constrained project scheduling problem as a vehicle, we describe how to devise such a CBR system, systematically analyzing the effect of several criteria on algorithmic performance. Extensive computational results validate the efficacy of our approach and reveal a performance similar or close to state‐of‐the‐art heuristics. In addition, the analysis undertaken provides new insight into the behaviour of a wide class of scheduling heuristics. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 47: 201–222, 2000     

Column generation for stochastic green telecommunication network planning with switchable base stations

We present the green telecommunication network planning problem with switchable base stations, where the location and configuration of the base stations are optimized, while taking into account uncertainty and variability of demand. The problem is formulated as a two‐stage stochastic program under demand uncertainty with integers in both stages. Since solving the presented problem is computationally challenging, we develop the corresponding Dantzig‐Wolfe reformulation and propose a solution approach based on column generation. Comprehensive computational results are provided for instances of varying characteristics. The results show that the joint location and dynamic switching of base stations leads to significant savings in terms of energy cost. Up to 30% reduction in power consumption cost is achieved while still serving all users. In certain cases, allowing dynamic configurations leads to more installed base stations and higher user coverage, while having lower total energy consumption. The Dantzig‐Wolfe reformulation provides solutions with a tight LP‐gap eliminating the need for a full branch‐and‐price scheme. Furthermore, the proposed column generation solution approach is computationally efficient and outperforms CPLEX on the majority of the tested instances. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 63: 351–366, 2016