New Inequalities for Finite and Infinite Group Problems from Approximate Lifting

In this paper, we derive new families of piecewise linear facet-defining inequalities for the finite group problem and extreme inequalities for the infinite group problem using approximate lifting. The new valid inequalities for the finite group problem are two- and three-slope facet-defining inequalities as well as the first family of four-slope facet-defining inequalities. The new … Read more

Extreme inequalities for infinite group problems

In this paper we derive new properties of extreme inequalities for infinite group problems. We develop tools to prove that given valid inequalities for the infinite group problem are extreme. These results show that integer infinite group problems have discontinuous extreme inequalities. These inequalities are strong when compared to related classes of continuous extreme inequalities. … Read more

Packing and Partitioning Orbitopes

We introduce orbitopes as the convex hulls of 0/1-matrices that are lexicographically maximal sub ject to a group acting on the columns. Special cases are packing and partitioning orbitopes, which arise from restrictions to matrices with at most or exactly one 1-entry in each row, respectively. The goal of investigating these polytopes is to gain … Read more

Facets of Two-Dimensional Infinite Group Problems

In this paper, we lay the foundation for the study of the two-dimensional mixed integer infinite group problem (2DMIIGP). We introduce tools to determine if a given continuous and piecewise linear function over the two-dimensional infinite group is subadditive and to determine whether it defines a facet. We then present two different constructions that yield … Read more

On separating cover inequalities for the multidimensional knapsack problem

We propose a simple and sufficiently fast separation procedure to identify cover inequalities for the multidimensional knapsack problem. It is based on the solution of a conventional integer programming model. Solving this kind of integer programs are usually considered expensive and the proposed method may have been overlooked because of this assumption. The results of … Read more

Decomposition in Integer Programming

Both cutting plane methods and traditional decomposition methods are procedures that compute a bound on the optimal value of an integer linear program (ILP) by constructing an approximation to the convex hull of feasible solutions. This approximation is obtained by intersecting the polyhedron associated with the continuous relaxation, which has an explicit representation, with an … Read more

Sequential pairing of mixed integer inequalities

We present a scheme for generating new valid inequalities for mixed integer programs by taking pair-wise combinations of existing valid inequalities. Our scheme is related to mixed integer rounding and mixing. The scheme is in general sequence-dependent and therefore leads to an exponential number of inequalities. For some important cases, we identify combination sequences that … Read more

Dynamic Bundle Methods

Lagrangian relaxation is a popular technique to solve difficult optimization problems. However, the applicability of this technique depends on having a relatively low number of hard constraints to dualize. When there are many hard constraints, it may be preferable to relax them dynamically, according to some rule depending on which multipliers are active. From the … Read more

Optimizing Call Center Staffing using Simulation and Analytic Center Cutting Plane Methods

We present a simulation-based analytic center cutting plane method to solve a sample average approximation of a call center problem of minimizing staffing costs, while maintaining an acceptable level of service in multiple time periods. We establish convergence of the method when the service level functions are discrete pseudoconcave. An extensive numerical study of a … Read more