A competitive genetic algorithm for resource-constrained project scheduling

In this paper we consider the resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) with makespan minimization as objective. We propose a new genetic algorithm approach to solve this problem. Subsequently, we compare it to two genetic algorithm concepts from the literature. While our approach makes use of a permutation based genetic encoding that contains problem-specific knowledge, the other two procedures employ a priority value based and a priority rule based representation, respectively. Then we present the results of our thorough computational study for which standard sets of project instances have been used. The outcome reveals that our procedure is the most promising genetic algorithm to solve the RCPSP. Finally, we show that our genetic algorithm yields better results than several heuristic procedures presented in the literature. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 45: 733–750, 1998     

The impact of exponential smoothing forecasts on the bullwhip effect

An important phenomenon often observed in supply chain management, known as the bullwhip effect, implies that demand variability increases as one moves up the supply chain, i.e., as one moves away from customer demand. In this paper we quantify this effect for simple, two‐stage, supply chains consisting of a single retailer and a single manufacturer. We demonstrate that the use of an exponential smoothing forecast by the retailer can cause the bullwhip effect and contrast these results with the increase in variability due to the use of a moving average forecast. We consider two types of demand processes, a correlated demand process and a demand process with a linear trend. We then discuss several important managerial insights that can be drawn from this research. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 47: 269–286, 2000     

Land power in the age of joint interdependence: toward a theory of land power for the twenty-first century*

This essay outlines a theory of land power. After explaining the absence of such a theory, the article establishes the modern context for such a theory, specifically within the concept of joint interdependence. The analysis defines key terms and premises behind the theory, to include a definition of land power. The argument then outlines the national elements of power that contribute to a theory of land power. The analysis next applies the theory to the fundamental purposes of military power: defeat, deter, compel, assure, shape and support to the nation. The analysis then tests key definitions, supporting premises, and utility of the theory. The essay argues that historical experience validates the applicability and utility of the theory, and offers a solid basis for extrapolating the validity of the theory into the near future.     

Excess procurement strategies by a dominant buyer under constrained supply

Supply chains are often characterized by the presence of a dominant buyer purchasing from a supplier with limited capacity. We study such a situation where a single supplier sells capacity to an established and more powerful buyer and also to a relatively less powerful buyer. The more powerful buyer enjoys the first right to book her capacity requirements at supplier's end, and then the common supplier fulfills the requirement of the less powerful buyer. We find that when the supplier's capacity is either too low (below the lower threshold) or too high (above the higher threshold), there is no excess procurement as compared to the case when supplier has infinite capacity. When the supplier's capacity is between these two thresholds, the more powerful buyer purchases an excess amount in comparison to the infinite capacity case.     

适用于行星巡视探测的集中式载荷控制方法

以行星巡视探测任务为背景,针对资源紧张条件下自主控制载荷进行科学探测的需求,提出一种集中式载荷控制方法。建立新型的载荷电子学和载荷数管集成一体化硬件架构;软件采用基于事件表和工作模式表的控制方式自主控制载荷工作;采取多项健康管理措施,依据预设的规则监控载荷的状态,自主对故障载荷采取恢复和隔离措施。实现的公用控制部分仅重3 kg,功耗6 W,软件支持9个工作模式表同时运行,指令执行时刻误差优于40 ms。该方法应用到我国首次火星探测任务中,地面测试结果表明其简捷、高效、可靠,适合在资源苛刻的行星巡视探测任务中,对各载荷进行控制。     

Purchase and retrieval competition for seasonal produce

We study the competition problem of purchase and multiretrieval of perishable seasonal produce, where wholesalers purchase and stock their products in the first period, and then retrieve and sell them in subsequent periods. We first consider the duopoly case and assume that the prices are exogenous and fluctuate. In each period, after the price realization, the wholesalers retrieve some stock from their warehouses to satisfy their demands. One wholesaler's unsatisfied customers can switch to another and be satisfied by its left retrieved products. Any unsold retrieved stock has no salvage value and any unsatisfied demand is lost. The unretrieved stock is carried to the next period at a perishable rate. The wholesalers compete for the substitute demand by determining their own purchase and retrieval quantities. We show the existence and uniqueness of a pure-strategy Nash equilibrium, and that the Nash equilibrium strategy has the simple “sell-down-to” structure. We also consider the general N-person game and show the existence of the Nash equilibrium, and characterize the structure of the equilibrium strategy for the symmetric case. In addition, we consider the case with endogenous prices, and show that the problem reduces to a repeated newsvendor game with price and inventory competition. We derive the conditions under which a unique Nash equilibrium exists and characterize the equilibrium strategy. Finally, we conduct numerical studies to examine the impacts of the model parameters on the equilibrium outcomes and to generate managerial insights.     

Assortment optimization with position effects under the nested logit model

We study the assortment optimization problem with position effects under the nested logit model, whose goal is to find the revenue-maximizing subset of products as well as their corresponding display positions. In this joint assortment-position optimization problem, the choices of products are affected by not only their qualities and prices but also the positions where they are displayed. Despite determining the assortment and their corresponding display positions sequentially, we propose to solve this problem in an integrated way to obtain the optimal solution. We formulate this problem as a nonlinear binary integer programming model and develop a dynamic programming based solution approach to obtain the optimal assortment-position assignments. We carry out extensive numerical experiments to evaluate the benefit of our integrated approach. The most important insight we discover is that it is not necessarily better to put the most attractive products in the best position. Moreover, we show that compared to the sequential approaches, our approach can improve revenue by 10.38% on average, which suggests that firms should take into consideration position effects when making assortment decisions. Finally, we discuss results related to two extensions of this problem, that is, the special case when positions are preassigned to nests, and the joint assortment-position-price optimization problem.     

Data-driven research in retail operations—A review

We review the operations research/management science literature on data-driven methods in retail operations. This line of work has grown rapidly in recent years, thanks to the availability of high-quality data, improvements in computing hardware, and parallel developments in machine learning methodologies. We survey state-of-the-art studies in three core aspects of retail operations—assortment optimization, order fulfillment, and inventory management. We then conclude the paper by pointing out some interesting future research possibilities for our community.     

多阶段传感器-武器联合任务管理方法

针对动态环境下的传感器-武器联合任务管理问题展开研究。根据在动态作战过程中出现的有效新目标、有效空闲传感器和武器数量设定阶段门限,以决定进入下一阶段的时机,从而构建多阶段的作战过程。从打击方案质量及系统响应时间的角度出发,分析构建分布式作战体系对系统作战效能的影响,使系统在每个任务管理阶段可以决定响应流程。通过仿真实验验证了所构建的分布式作战体系与设定的阶段门限可以明显提升系统的作战效能。     

装备试验与评价的系统工程管理技术

试验与评价是对装备战技指标进行的全面考核与验证,涉及到多指标、多阶段、多装备层次。结合装备试验与评价的特点与需求,给出了装备试验与评价系统工程管理的概念,明确了其内涵。从寿命周期维、评价指标维和装备层次维三个角度,构建了装备试验与评价的霍尔三维结构模型(HMTE)。针对具体评价指标,对该模型的矩阵映射过程进行了阐述,实现了HMTE的具体化。最后对元模型进行了论述,并通过案例阐述了其具体形式。装备试验与评价系统工程管理方法的应用,有利于装备试验与评价的全面统筹与实施,达到降低试验总费用,提升试验总效能的目标。