This paper presents a linear programming approach to analyze and optimize flow lines with limited buffer capacities and stochastic processing times. The basic idea is to solve a huge but simple linear program that models an entire simulation run of a multi-stage production process in discrete...

This paper analyzes the Steiner-Weber-Problem with piecewise linear or piecewise constant transportation costs. These non-differentiable cost functions are analyzed using different one-step and dynamic linearization methods, which are based on approximations via average and marginal costs. An...

The capacity of a runway system represents a bottleneck at many international airports. The current practice at airports is to land approaching aircraft on a first-come, first-served basis. An active rescheduling of aircraft landing times increases runway capacity or reduces delays. The problem...

In practice, call center service levels are reported over periods of finite length that are usually no longer than 24 hours. In such small periods the service level has a large variability. It is therefore not sufficient to base staffing decisions only on the expected service level. In this...

This research addresses a shift scheduling problem in which physicians are assigned to demand periods. We develop a reduced set covering approach that requires shift templates to be generated for a single day and compare it to an implicit modeling technique where shift-building rules are...

This paper analyzes the performance of call centers with impatient customers, two levels of support, and an overflow mechanism. Waiting calls from the front-office queue – if not reneging – are sent to the back office if at least one back-office agent is available and if a certain threshold...

This paper analyzes the Steiner–Weber-Problem with piecewise linear or piecewise constant transportation costs. These non-differentiable cost functions are analyzed using different one-step and dynamic linearization methods, which are based on approximations via average and marginal costs. An...

This paper treats the problem of setting the inventory level of closed-loop flow lines operating under the constant-work-in-process (CONWIP) protocol. We solve a huge but simple linear program that models an entire simulation run of a closed-loop flow line in discrete time to determine a...