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
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
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
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
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
This paper addresses a multi-stage stochastic integer programming formulation of the uncapacitated lot-sizing problem under uncertainty. We show that the classical (l,S) inequalities for the deterministic lot-sizing polytope are also valid for the stochastic lot-sizing polytope. We then extend the (l,S) inequalities to a general class of valid inequalities, called the (Q,S_Q) inequalities, and we … Read more
In this paper we use facets of mixed-integer sets with two and three variables to derive valid inequalities for integer sets defined by a single equation. These inequalities also define facets of the master cyclic group polyhedron of Gomory. Facets of this polyhedron give strong valid inequalities for general mixed-integer sets, such as the well-known … Read more
We propose a dynamic version of the bundle method to get approximate solutions to semidefinite programs with a nearly arbitrary number of linear inequalities. Our approach is based on Lagrangian duality, where the inequalities are dualized, and only a basic set of constraints is maintained explicitly. This leads to function evaluations requiring to solve a … Read more
Decomposition algorithms such as Lagrangian relaxation and Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition are well-known methods that can be used to generate bounds for mixed-integer linear programming problems. Traditionally, these methods have been viewed as distinct from polyhedral methods, in which bounds are obtained by dynamically generating valid inequalities to strengthen the linear programming relaxation. Recently, a number of … Read more
We investigate the polyhedral structure of the lot-sizing problem with inventory bounds. We consider two models, one with linear costs on inventory, the other with linear and fixed costs on inventory. For both models, we identify facet-defining inequalities that make use of the inventory capacities explicitly and give exact separation algorithms. We also give a … Read more