This paper analyzes a supply chain, which consists of a manufacturer, a retailer and several suppliers in which the retailer orders jobs to the manufacturer and the suppliers provide the requiring parts. The manufacturer schedules and processes the orders and dispatches them to the retailer either individually or collectively in batches. The manufacturer incurs a penalty cost for each tardy job and a transportation cost for every delivered batch and therefore, searches for a schedule that yields minimum number of tardy jobs and batches. Moreover, the manufacturer tries to optimize its supplying cost through locating the suppliers that offer appropriate release times and costs for manufacturing parts. Since the release times of parts directly affect scheduling of orders, in this research, we develop an integrated mathematical model for the manufacturer that incorporates suppliers & apos; selection issue into the scheduling and batching decisions. Furthermore, we present a heuristic algorithm (greedy algorithm) and also a local search to quickly determine the optimal or near-optimal solutions. The computational analysis shows the importance of the integrated model and also the superiority and effectiveness of the heuristic algorithms.

There is a tremendous growth of the use of the component based software engineering (CBSE) approach for the development of software systems. The selection of the best suited COTS components which fulfils the necessary requirement for the development of software(s) has become a major challenge for the software developers. The complexity of the optimal selection problem increases with an increase in alternative potential COTS components and the corresponding selection criteria. In this research paper, the problem of ranking and selection of Data Base Management Systems (DBMS) components is modeled as a multi-criteria decision making problem. A ‘Fuzzy Distance Based Approach (FDBA)’ method is proposed for the optimal ranking and selection of DBMS COTS components of an e-payment system based on 14 selection criteria grouped under three major categories i.e. ‘Vendor Capabilities’, ‘Business Issues’ and ‘Cost’. The results of this method are compared with other Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) which is termed as a typical multi-criteria decision making approach. The proposed methodology is explained with an illustrated example.

This paper presents a mathematical model to solve a multi-objective decision making supplier selection problem. The proposed problem considers three objective functions: the first objective function minimizes the cost of purchasing the products while the second objective function minimizes the due dates and finally the third objective function maximizes the customer satisfaction. The resulted problem is formulated as mixed integer programming and, therefore, we use invasive weed optimization technique to solve the resulted problem. The performance of the proposed model is compared with NSGA II based on different criteria such as mean ideal distance and quality matrix. The preliminary results indicate that the proposed model performs relatively well compared with alternative method.

In this paper, a new method is proposed for scheduling dynamic cellular manufacturing systems (D-CMS) in the presence of uncertain product demands. The aim of this method is to control the process of trading off between in-house manufacturing and outsourcing while product demands are uncertain and can be varied from period to period. To solve the proposed problem, a hybrid Tabu Search and Simulated Annealing are developed to overcome hardness of the proposed model and then results are compared with a Branch and Bound and Simulated Annealing algorithms. A Taguchi method (L_27 orthogonal optimization) is used to estimate parameters of the proposed method in order to solve experiments derived from literature. An in-depth analysis is conducted on the results in consideration of various factors. For evaluating the system imbalance in dynamic market demands, a new measuring index is developed. Our findings indicate that the uncertain condition of market demands affects the routing of product parts and may induce machine-load variations that yield to cell-load diversity. The results showed that the proposed hybrid method can provide solutions with better quality.

The evaluation and selection of energy technologies involve a large number of attributes whose selection and weighting is decided in accordance with the social, environmental, technical and economic framework. In the present work an integrated multiple attribute decision making methodology is developed by combining graph theory and analytic hierarchy process methods to deal with the evaluation and selection of energy technologies. The energy technology selection attributes digraph enables a quick visual appraisal of the energy technology selection attributes and their interrelationships. The preference index provides a total objective score for comparison of energy technologies alternatives. Application of matrix permanent offers a better appreciation of the considered attributes and helps to analyze the different alternatives from combinatorial viewpoint. The AHP is used to assign relative weights to the attributes. Four examples of evaluation and selection of energy technologies are considered in order to demonstrate and validate the proposed method.

Production engineers are frequently faced with the multi-criteria selection problems in the manufacturing environment. Over the years, many multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods have been proposed to help decision makers in solving different complex selection problems. This paper introduces the use of an almost unexplored MCDM method, i.e. range of value (ROV) method for solving cutting fluid selection problems. The main motivation of using the ROV method is that it offers a very simple computational procedure compared to other MCDM methods. Applicability and effectiveness of the ROV method have been demonstrated while solving four case studies dealing with selection of the most suitable cutting fluid for the given machining application. In each case study the obtained complete rankings were compared with those derived by the past researchers using different MCDM methods. The results obtained using the ROV method have excellent correlation with those derived by the past researchers which validate the usefulness and effectiveness of this simple MCDM method for solving cutting fluid selection problems.

Six Sigma is a strategic approach of significant value in achieving overall excellence. It helps to accomplish the organizations strategic aim through the effectual use of project controlled methodology. As Six Sigma is a project controlled approach, it is necessary to prioritize projects which give utmost economic benefits to the firm. In real practice, Six Sigma projects selection is very tough assignment because poor project selection also happens even in the well-managed organizations and this can weaken the success and trustworthiness of the Six Sigma practice. The present study aims to develop a project selection approach based on a combination of fuzzy and MADM technique to help organizations determine proper Six Sigma projects and identify the priority of these projects mainly in automotive companies. VIKOR and TOPSIS methods have been used to select the proper Six Sigma project composed with fuzzy logic. In this context, seven critical parameters have been considered for selection of finest alternative. The weights of evaluation criteria are obtained using the MDL (modified digital logic) method and final ranking is calculated through primacy index obtained by using fuzzy based VIKOR and TOPSIS methodology. A factual case study from automotive industry is used to investigate the efficacy of the planned approach.

The objective of this paper is to optimize the process parameters by combined approach of VIKOR and Entropy weight measurement method during Electrical discharge machining (EDM) process of Al-18wt.%SiCp metal matrix composite (MMC). The central composite design (CCD) method is considered to evaluate the effect of three process parameters; namely pulse on time (Ton), peak current (Ip) and flushing pressure (Fp) on the responses like material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), Radial over cut (ROC) and surface roughness (Ra). The Entropy weight measurement method evaluates the individual weights of each response and, using VIKOR method, the multi-objective responses are optimized to get a single numerical index known as VIKOR Index. Then the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique is used to determine the significance of the process parameters on the VIKOR Index. Finally, the result of the VIKOR Indexed is validated by conformation test using the liner mathematical model equation develop by responses surface methodology to identify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Multi-objective optimization is an optimization problem with some conflicting objectives to be attained, simultanously. This paper reviewed literature about multi-objective optimization problems for supply chain management. The review aimed to provide the lastest research views and recomendations for further studies. We discussed the lastest ten years publications about multi-objective optimization for supply chain management. The scope of this review was classified into five categories i.e. problem statements, multi-objective frameworks, mathematical formulation modeling, optimization techniques, and representation of supply chain. Multi-objective optimization approaches, both classical and metaheuristic approaches, were discussed, accordingly. In this review, we conducted conclusion and recomendations about likelihood research directions in future.

This paper analyzes the integration of two combinatorial problems that frequently arise in production and distribution systems. One is the Bin Packing Problem (BPP) problem, which involves finding an ordering of some objects of different volumes to be packed into the minimal number of containers of the same or different size. An optimal solution to this NP-Hard problem can be approximated by means of meta-heuristic methods. On the other hand, we consider the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (CVRPTW), which is a variant of the Travelling Salesman Problem (again a NP-Hard problem) with extra constraints. Here we model those two problems in a single framework and use an evolutionary meta-heuristics to solve them jointly. Furthermore, we use data from a real world company as a test-bed for the method introduced here.