Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 220-223

Abstract: This paper presents a cat swarm optimization (CSO)-based method for resource constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP). The CSO simulates the behavior of cats in two sub-models and potential solution to the RCPSP is presented by the multidimensional positions of cats. CSO-based scheme for the RCPSP has three main stages: first randomly initialize the parameters of cats, then update the position in iteration and calculate the fitness through serial SGS method, finally terminate the process if the condition is satisfied. Compared to the other widely used heuristic methods, CSO is easy to understand and to implement. The adoption of CSO in solving RCPSP indicates the universality of CSO in solving operational problems. When solving RCPSP, some refinement of original CSO are made. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared against a set of heuristic and meta-heuristic methods, and it is tested on standard problem sets called PSPLIB which is freely available on the Internet. The empirical results show that CSO has an average good performance among the other compared methods.

Abstract: Because there are many in-process material stocks in current fork truck plants, kanban theory was employed to solve the problem. First, a business logic of the e-kanban system, which consists of ERP system, production plan configure system, e-kanban config & auto-collect system, routers, delivery points, LED control card and e-kanban screen, was described. Second, a control logic model of the e-kanban system was investigated. Third, arithmetic of data collection was presented. Finally, the e-kanban system is put in practice in a fork struck plant.

Abstract: Simulation is a very powerful tool that helps evaluate the impact of business decisions on performance in an uncertain environment. OptQuest is an optimization tool of crystal ball, which can define random variables easily and display the result graphically. In this paper, the impact of quick response strategy on the performance is modeled and analyzed. To illustrate the issues, consider an example and compare the impact of different ordering policies using OptQuest simulation. Studies have shown that quick response had a positive impact on the performance. It can be seen from the process of modeling and optimization, OptQuest is an inexpensive way to test different actions and identify the most effective decision given an uncertain future.

Abstract: Wind and load forecast error is inevitable. With wind power capacities increasing in electricity systems, it will increase the load reserve demand due to larger total forecast error. In electricity market environment, grid company must pay to power plants for supplying reserve. The first goal of grid company is to maximize its profits in electricity market environment. In this paper, using probabilistic method, the costs of reserve capacity and load shedding are analyzed. we can calculate reserve costs with and without wind power units separately. Comparing their reserve costs, we can quantify the influence of significant installed wind capacity on reserve costs.

Abstract: To effectively improve the competitiveness of port enterprises, container yard stacking optimization is an important way to raise their benefit. A multi-objective optimization model for containers stacking in the storage yard based on 0-1mixed integer programming is built to improve its efficiency. The objective function is to minimize the number of yard cranes used in the storage yard and balance the workload among different blocks during the planning period. The decision variables include the number of transit and export containers assigned to yard-bits, yard cranes distributed to blocks, yard-bits with high and low workload in a block. The constraints include meeting the shipping requirement, storage capacity and operational capacity of yard cranes. A numerical example is given and solved by Lingo9.0. The simulation is done to recover the relation between workload level and the number of yard crane used and the workload balance. The model can be used to yard stacking management and lift its level for a transshipment port.

Abstract: Management of multi-echelon with unidirectional transshipments is an effective approach to improve support effectiveness. Focus on the problem, a system where transshipments are allowed only in one direction is provided. The technique is solved in a simple and efficient heuristic algorithm, and the simulation shows that the model produces accurate estimation. Numerical studies show unidirectional transshipments improves various system performance measures such as the fill rate, the average inventory on hand, and the average backorder level. The suggest method gives a good picture of how considered unidirectional lateral transshipments affect the inventory system, which has large significance for completing inventory theory and supplying decision assistance for a reasonable optimization project.

Abstract: To study significance of information synergy achievement to steel closed-loop supply chain. Using research of supply chain response time for reference, this paper studied value of information synergy in steel closed-loop supply chain. Profit model of information synergy and profit of steel closed-loop supply chain in a two modes closed-loop supply chain that consisted of one steel enterprise and a seller was constructed in this paper. The result shows that within a certain range, as information synergy increases, benefit of steel closed-loop supply chain increases too. The study has an important role in research on information synergy in steel closed-loop supply chain. It also supports research for information synergy.

Abstract: In order to resolve all kinds of pricing problems in reverse supply chain, this paper constructed a multi-level remanufacturing reverse supply chain consisted of single recycler, single manufacturer and single retailer and established a non-cooperative stackelberg game by applying game theory. By solving this model, the equilibrium solution of stackelberg game was got. In non-cooperative game the maximize profits of every company in reverse supply chain and the total profits of the entire supply chain was acquired by using the equilibrium solution. The results show that this model can provide a theoretical basis for the pricing decision of remanufacturing reverse supply chain.

Abstract: The pricing of production wastes is one of the key problems to realize the coordination operation of interrelated supply chains. Considering the background that the first cooperation between wastes supplier and manufacturer and the capacity of production wastes is supposed to be limited since the output of production wastes is dependent on the market demand of main production. Based on Nash bargaining game, the pricing strategy of production wastes under the condition of limited capacity is proposed to realize the optimal interrelated supply chain system. The effects of output capacity on price and total utility of the system are discussed. Furthermore, the pricing strategy of incentive compatibility when output capacity is less than the order quantity of the contract is proposed.

Abstract: Coordination across the supply chain improves the manufacturing efficiency a lot. To provide a rational cooperation mechanism for supply chain scheduling, a bargaining model was established on the basis of the Nash bargaining theory. The solution of the model draws forth a new scheduling problem with multi-objective product. A polynomial heuristic was designed to find the near-optimal bargaining solution under the assembly circumstance.