On the competitive facility location problem with a free choice of suppliers

We consider a mathematical model from the class of competitive sequential facility location problems. In these problems, the competitors sequentially open their facilities, and each side aims to “capture” the consumers and maximize its profits. In the proposed model, we consider a situation of a “free” choice by each side of an open facility to service a customer. The model is formulated as a bilevel integer programming problem. We show that the problem of finding an optimal noncooperative solution can be represented as a maximization problem for a pseudo-Boolean function. We propose an algorithm for constructing an admissible noncooperative solution for fixed values of the variables in this pseudo-Boolean function. We also propose a method for constructing an upper bound on the maximal value of the pseudo-Boolean function on subsets of solutions defined by partial (0, 1)-vectors.     

Branch-and-bound algorithm for a competitive facility location problem

We study a mathematical model generalizing the well-known facility location problem. In this model we consider two competing sides successively placing their facilities and aiming to “capture” consumers, in order to make maximal profit. We state the problem as a bilevel integer programming problem, regarding optimal noncooperative solutions as optimal solutions. We propose a branch-and-bound algorithm for finding the optimal noncooperative solution. While constructing the algorithm, we represent our problem as the problem of maximizing a pseudo-Boolean function. An important ingredient of the algorithm is a method for calculating an upper bound for the values of the pseudo-Boolean function on subsets of solutions. We present the results of a simulation demonstrating the computational capabilities of the proposed algorithm.     

A single facility location problem with a weighted maximin-minimax rectilinear distance

This paper provides an algorithm for locating a single facility in a region, where the objective function is composed of the weighted maximin and minimax rectilinear distances from a set of given demand points. This weighted objective function is applicable when the facility to be located is somewhat desirable but it should not be too close to the demand points, since it also has some undesirable effects. It has been proven in this paper, that it is enough to test for optimality all the intersection points of any two lines forming the equirectilinear distances between any pair of demand points or boundary lines of the region. The algorithm developed here tests these intersection points. The efficient set of points and their optimality range are found. This parametric form of the solution provides an optimal solution for any desired weight.     

A computational study of a nonlinear minsum facility location problem

A discrete location problem with nonlinear objective is addressed. A set of p plants is to be open to serve a given set of clients. Together with the locations, the number p of facilities is also a decision variable. The objective is to minimize the total cost, represented as the transportation cost between clients and plants, plus an increasing nonlinear function of p.     

RAMP algorithms for the capacitated facility location problem

Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence - In this paper, we address the Capacitated Facility Location Problem (CFLP) in which the assignment of facilities to customers must ensure enough...     

A soft-computing Pareto-based meta-heuristic algorithm for a multi-objective multi-server facility location problem

In this paper, a novel multi-objective location model within multi-server queuing framework is proposed, in which facilities behave as M/M/m queues. In the developed model of the problem, the constraints of selecting the nearest-facility along with the service level restriction are considered to bring the model closer to reality. Three objective functions are also considered including minimizing (I) sum of the aggregate travel and waiting times, (II) maximum idle time of all facilities, and (III) the budget required to cover the costs of establishing the selected facilities plus server staffing costs. Since the developed model of the problem is of an NP-hard type and inexact solutions are more probable to be obtained, soft computing techniques, specifically evolutionary computations, are generally used to cope with the lack of precision. From different terms of evolutionary computations, this paper proposes a Pareto-based meta-heuristic algorithm called multi-objective harmony search (MOHS) to solve the problem. To validate the results obtained, two popular algorithms including non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and non-dominated ranking genetic algorithm (NRGA) are utilized as well. In order to demonstrate the proposed methodology and to compare the performances in terms of Pareto-based solution measures, the Taguchi approach is first utilized to tune the parameters of the proposed algorithms, where a new response metric named multi-objective coefficient of variation (MOCV) is introduced. Then, the results of implementing the algorithms on some test problems show that the proposed MOHS outperforms the other two algorithms in terms of computational time.     

A simple filter-and-fan approach to the facility location problem

The design of effective neighborhood search procedures is a primary issue for the performance of local search and advanced metaheuristic algorithms. Several recent studies have focused on the development of variable depth neighborhoods that generate sequences of interrelated elementary moves to create more complex compound moves. These methods are chiefly conceived to produce an adaptive search as the number of elementary moves in a compound move may vary from one iteration to another depending on the state of the search. The objective is to achieve this goal with modest computational effort. Although ejection chain methods are currently the most advanced methods in this domain, they usually require more complex implementations. The filter-and-fan (F&F) method appears as an alternative to ejection chain methods allowing for the creation of compound moves based on an effective tree search design.     

Local search heuristics for the mobile facility location problem

In the mobile facility location problem (MFLP), one seeks to relocate (or move) a set of existing facilities and assign clients to these facilities so that the sum of facility movement costs and the client travel costs (each to its assigned facility) is minimized. This paper studies formulations and develops local search heuristics for the MFLP. First, we develop an integer programming (IP) formulation for the MFLP by observing that for a given set of facility destinations the problem may be decomposed into two polynomially solvable subproblems. This IP formulation is quite compact in terms of the number of nonzero coefficients in the constraint matrix and the number of integer variables; and allows for the solution of large-scale MFLP instances. Using the decomposition observation, we propose two local search neighborhoods for the MFLP. We report on extensive computational tests of the new IP formulation and local search heuristics on a large range of instances. These tests demonstrate that the proposed formulation and local search heuristics significantly outperform the existing formulation and a previously developed local search heuristic for the problem.     

A quadra-directional decomposition heuristic for a two-dimensional,non-equidistant machine-cell location problem

After the development of numerous cell formation techniques, machine-cell location (MCL) problems have been the focus of many researchers in cellular manufacturing systems. With the cost cutting strategy, locating machines within the cell itself has not only been the major concern of management, but also the location of cells with respect to each other on a spatial coordinate system to minimize the transportation cost or job movement costs. For lack of being able to solve a large problem optimally, a number of heuristics have been developed for one-dimensional machine and MCL problems. The problem still exists for locating machine-cells on spatial coordinates, which has been addressed in this research. The location coordinates have been decomposed into four movements, backward, forward, upward and downward; and the MCL problem is formulated as a linear combination of these four decomposed (partitioned) objective functions subject to other boundary conditions. A quadra-directional decomposition heuristic (QDDH) is developed to find a sub-optimal solution to the MCL problem. The decomposition procedure for four objective functions is presented and the performance of the heuristic is tested on a set of well-known data. Empirical tests show that the solution procedure produces efficient, good quality solutions for different sizes of the problem instances.     

Capacitated facility location problem with general setup cost

This paper presents an extension of the capacitated facility location problem (CFLP), in which the general setup cost functions and multiple facilities in one site are considered. The setup costs consist of a fixed term (site setup cost) plus a second term (facility setup costs). The facility setup cost functions are generally non-linear functions of the size of the facility in the same site. Two equivalent mixed integer linear programming (MIP) models are formulated for the problem and solved by general MIP solver. A Lagrangian heuristic algorithm (LHA) is also developed to find approximate solutions for this NP-hard problem. Extensive computational experiments are taken on randomly generated data and also well-known existing data (with some necessary modifications). The detailed results are provided and the heuristic algorithm is shown to be efficient.     

求解无容量设施选址问题的混合蝙蝠算法

无容量设施选址（Un-capacitated Facility Location,UFL）问题是可以运用于不同领域的经典优化难题。蝙蝠算法（Bat Algorithm,BA）是一种新的群智能优化算法,目前还未被应用到无容量设施选址问题的求解中。针对蝙蝠算法易陷入局部最优、收敛精度低、后期收敛速度慢的缺点,并结合无容量设施选址问题的具体特征,将三种局部搜索策略、和声搜索机制与基本蝙蝠算法相结合,使用一种新的随机游走法则公式改善蝙蝠的搜索能力,设计了求解无容量设施选址问题的混合蝙蝠算法。通过实例测试将混合蝙蝠算法与其他算法进行比较,验证了该算法求解无容量设施选址问题的有效性与可行性。     

工厂地址集中的k-种产品选址问题的近似算法

k-种产品工厂选址问题是：给定一个客户集合和一个可以建立工厂的地址集合,每个客户需要k-种产品,一个工厂只能为客户提供一种产品。考虑的工厂假设相对集中,即假设任何工厂之间的距离都不大于工厂与客户之间的距离。对于没有建厂费用的问题,当k=2时证明了它是一个NP完全问题,对任意的k给出了一个最坏性能比不大于2-1/k的近似算法。对于有建厂费用的问题,给出了一个最坏性能比不大于2的近似算法。     

A planar single facility location and border crossing problem

In this study, we tackle the problem of locating a facility in a region where a fixed line barrier divides the region into two. The resulting subregions communicate with each other through a number of passage points located on the line barrier. Our contribution is threefold. First, we formulate the problem as a Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model and provide an optimal solution methodology based on an Outer Approximation (OA) algorithm. Second, we discuss the minimax version of this problem for locating an emergency facility and use the OA algorithm to solve the problem. We then provide simple example problems and extensive computational results for both problems. Finally, we propose a one-infinity approximation approach for the latter problem which yields a linear model. Practical uses of the models have been discussed in the border crossing context.     

A global shooting algorithm for the facility location and capacity acquisition problem on a line with dense demand

This paper describes the development of an exact allocation-based solution algorithm for the facility location and capacity acquisition problem (LCAP) on a line with dense demand data. Initially, the n-facility problem on a line is studied and formulated as a dynamic programming model in the allocation decision space. Next, we cast this dynamic programming formulation as a two-point boundary value problem and provide conditions for the existence and uniqueness of solutions. We derive sufficient conditions for non-empty service regions and necessary conditions for interior facility locations. We develop an efficient exact shooting algorithm to solve the problem as an initial value problem and illustrate on an example. A computational study is conducted to study the effect of demand density and other problem parameters on the solutions.     

Randomized local search for the discrete competitive facility location problem

Consider a finite set of consumers that two competing companies are willing to service. The companies open facilities one by one. The set of locations available to open facilities is finite. The problem is to find a facility location for the first company that maximizes its profit given that the second company also makes its decision by maximizing the profit. We propose a randomized local search scheme that employs an internal local search procedure to estimate the solutions being enumerated. Numerical experiments with random input data show that the scheme is able to find high quality approximate solutions for examples with dimension that has not been amenable to previously known algorithms.     

Binary crow search algorithm for the uncapacitated facility location problem

Neural Computing and Applications - The crow search algorithm (CSA) is a recently proposed population-based optimization algorithm for continuous optimization. Since the original CSA searches for a...     

A simple and effective genetic algorithm for the two-stage capacitated facility location problem

This paper presents a simple and effective Genetic Algorithm (GA) for the two-stage capacitated facility location problem (TSCFLP). The TSCFLP is a typical location problem which arises in freight transportation. In this problem, a single product must be transported from a set of plants to meet customers demands, passing out by intermediate depots. The objective is to minimize the operation costs of the underlying two-stage transportation system thereby satisfying demand and capacity constraints of its agents. For this purpose, a GA is proposed and computational results are reported comparing the heuristic results with those obtained by two state-of-the-art Lagrangian heuristics proposed in the literature for the problem.     

The single facility location problem with minimum distance constraints

We consider the problem of locating a single facility (server) in the plane, where the location of the facility is restricted to be outside a specified forbidden region (neighborhood) around each demand point. Two models are discussed. In the restricted 1-median model, the objective is to minimize the sum of the weighted rectilinear distances from the n customers to the facility. We present an O(n log n) algorithm for this model, improving upon the O(n³) complexity bound of the algorithm by Brimberg and Wesolowsky (1995). In the restricted 1-center model the objective is to minimize the maximum of the weighted rectilinear distances between the customers and the serving facility. We present an O(n log n) algorithm for finding an optimal 1-center. We also discuss some related models, involving the Euclidean norm.