Decomposition of Multi-Period Inventory Routing Problems Via ADP

DATE: March 27, 2009

TIME: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

LOCATION: Executive classroom

FEES: none

EVENT CONTACT:

Anita Race, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Contact Anita Race

TITLE: Decomposition of Multi-Period Inventory Routing Problems Via ADP

SPEAKER: Alejandro Toriello

ABSTRACT:

We investigate the possibility of generating good solutions to multi-period inventory routing problems by solving single-period sub-problems linked by inventory levels. The inventory tailing-off effect is counterbalanced by an approximate value function obtained via sampling and data fitting. We also study the fundamental question of whether approximate value functions allow us to shorten planning horizons so that solving multi-period problems becomes computationally tractable.

This is joint work with George Nemhauser and Martin Savelsbergh.

This is a joint SCL/DOS Seminar.