This contribution defines an instance generator for capacitated, dynamic, multi-level lot sizing problems. It provides sophisticated methods for generating systematically varied parameter level combinations automatically. This helps to perform evaluations of lot sizing methods according to a...

Where standard MLP-solvers fail to compute optimum objective function values for certain MLP-model formulations, lower bounds may be used as a point of reference for evaluating heuristics. In this paper, we compute lower bounds for the multi-level proportional lot sizing and scheduling problem...

This contribution introduces a mixed-integer programming formulation for the multi-level, multi-machine proportional lot sizing and scheduling problem. It also presents a genetic algorithm to solve that problem. The efficiency of that algorithm is due to an encoding of solutions which uses a...

A flow line consists of a sequence of work places (or stations) through which one or more producta (or models) move one-way in order to be processed. Each model requires specific Operations which must be performed in a predefined Order. To be able to do so, the stations must be equipped with...

This contribution presents an efficient solution method for solving the major short-term planning problems which occur, if lot production has to be managed. In our focus are the two most important aspects, i.e. lot sizing and scheduling. Since both problems heavily interact, we propose an...

This paper presents a mixed-integer program for the dynamic lot sizing and scheduling problem in a multi-level, single-machine environment. It turns out that in contrast to single-level problems the integration of initial inventory is a crucial aspect if generality should not be lost. It is...

Cellular automata were used to model and to simulate phenomena in the area of physics, biology and medicine. In this paper it is now shown how the idea of cellular automata can be applied to optimization problems as well. As an example a cellular automaton is used as a basis for solving...