Optimizing Capacitated Vehicle Scheduling with Time Windows: A Case Study of RMC Delivery
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Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Problem (RMCDP) is a multi-objective multi-constraint dynamic combinatorial optimization problem. From the operational research prospective, it is a real life logistic problem that is hard to be solved with large instances. In RMCDP, there is a need to optimize the Ready Mixed Concrete ( RMC) delivery by predetermining an optimal schedule for the sites-trips assignments that adheres to strict time, distance, and capacity constraints. This optimization process is subjected to a domain of objectives ranging from achieving maximum revenue to minimizing the operational cost. In this paper, we analyze the problem based on realistic assumptions and introduce its theoretical foundation. We derive a complete projection of the problem in graph theory, and prove its NP-Completeness in the complexity theory, which constitutes the base of the proposed approaches. The first approach is a graph-based greedy algorithm that deploys dynamic graph weights and has polynomial time complexity. The second approach is a heuristic-based algorithm coupled with the dynamic programming and is referred to as Priority Algorithm. This algorithm is carefully designed to address the RMCDP dynamic characteristic, and satisfies its multi-objectivity. In comparison with the state-of-arts approaches, our algorithm achieves high feasibility rate, lower design complexity, and significantly lower computational time to find optimal or very slightly suboptimal solutions.
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