Optimizing the cutting of stock plates in a furniture company

In this study we analysed practical aspects of the application of a cutting stock model to a Brazilian company that manufactures furniture on a large scale with a high degree of standardization. The model is based on the classical approach of Gilmore and Gomory, which combines a linear program and a column generation procedure. Besides the two-stage and three-stage guillotine cutting patterns, we also considered one-group guillotine patterns that improve the productivity of the cutting equipment. Examples derived from the furniture company are used to illustrate some of the trade-offs involved, in particular the trade-off between cutting simpler patterns and patterns that yield less waste material, but reduce the productivity of the cutting machine.