On the discrete time-proportional demand inventory problem

This paper discusses a lot-size model with a very specific time-varying demand pattern, namely a time proportional demand which occurs only a discrete and equal intervals of time throughout a given planning horizon. Three basic aspects of the discrete demand case will be considered in this paper, namely, (i) an examination of the characteristics that differentiate the discrete from the continuous demand cases; (ii) a discussion of the ways in which these characteristics can be exploited to find solution algorithms and heuristics for the discrete case; and (iii) a report on computational experience with these models.