A practical solution to a cargo loading problem at Bethlehem Steel

A practical solution to a cargo loading problem at Bethlehem Steel

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Article ID: iaor19951399
Country: United Kingdom
Volume: 45
Issue: 11
Start Page Number: 1285
End Page Number: 1292
Publication Date: Nov 1994
Journal: Journal of the Operational Research Society
Authors: , , ,
Keywords: packing
Abstract:

The optimum assignment of structural steel shapes to rail cars is an important logistic problem in the steel industry. This paper discusses an application at Bethlehem Steel that not only involves weight and dimensional constraints, but also customer unloading constraints. The formulation is a generalized bin packing problem which is solved by modifying and extending the first fit decreasing algorithm. The solution algorithm, SOLID (for Structural Optimal Loading IDentification), has been used extensively for one of Bethlehem’s high tonnage customers providing very good practical (implementable) results that achieve the desired goals. Bethlehem has enhanced this approach for use with other customers.

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