Transport Optimization at Danisco: Routing of Pack Machines

Sara Bisander Nielsen

AbstractThe main purpose of the thesis is to solve the two real-life distribution problems, that is the pack machine problem and the limited pack machine problem. Well known problems from operational research are used as approaches to formulate the problems, these are the Vehicle Routing Problem, the Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and the Travelling Salesman Problem (with Time Windows). Mathematical models of the approaches are presented, and it is described how they could be applied on the pack machine problem and the limited pack machine problem.

Solution methods based on the local search method Steepest Descent and the metaheuristic Simulated Annealing are developed and implemented. Initial solutions are obtained with a nearest neighbour construction heuristic and an insertion heuristic. Results obtained with Simulated Annealing and Steepest Descent is presented.

Finally an exact method for solving the pack machine problem is presented. The method is based on column generation and branch & bound.
KeywordsDistribution Problems, Vehicle Routing Problem, Time Windows, Simulated Annealing, Steepest Descent
TypeMaster's thesis [Industrial collaboration]
Year2006
PublisherInformatics and Mathematical Modelling, Technical University of Denmark, DTU
AddressRichard Petersens Plads, Building 321, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby
SeriesIMM-Thesis-2006-46
NoteJesper Larsen and Jens Clausen, IMM, DTU and Allan Larsen CTT, DTU were supervisors on the project. The thesis was carried out in co-operation with the Danish Sugar Firm Danisco.
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BibTeX data [bibtex]
IMM Group(s)Operations Research