Trip-based material handling systems such as AGV systems or lift trucks are often designed with a given flow matrix (or from-to chart), which typically shows the number of loaded trips that the devices must perform per unit time between the workstations. A from-to chart that would result from the parts flow in a facility actually is dictated by the transfer batch size; that is, the number of pa...

Social animals commonly form aggregates that exhibit emergent collective behaviour, with group dynamics that are distinct from the behaviour of individuals. Simple models can qualitatively reproduce such behaviour, but only with large numbers of individuals. But how rapidly do the collective properties of animal aggregations in nature emerge with group size? Here, we study swarms of Chironomus ...

In this paper we extend a stochastic discrete optimization approach so as to tackle the lot-sizing problem in manufacturing systems. In practice, with the surrogate methodology, the lot sizes are continuously adjusted on-line by the gradient-based approach. The lot sizing determines the number of parts batched together for production. We utilize the queueing approach that evidences the existenc...

In this paper we extend the generalized surrogate optimization approaches and the stochastic comparison so as to tackle the lot-sizing problem in manufacturing system. In practice, with the surrogate methodology, the lot sizes are continuously adjusted on-line by the gradient-based approaches. The lot sizing determines the number of parts batched together for production. We utilize the queueing...

Decisions about residential lot size and square footage are influenced by a variety of determinants ranging from zoning regulations to neighborhood characteristics. Our theoretical analysis suggests that the property tax rate could also affect residential lot sizes and the sizes of newly constructed houses. Using descriptions for over 36 thousand houses built in New Hampshire between 1985 and 2...

This paper examines the optimal production lot size decisions for clinical trial supply chains. One unique aspect of clinical trial supply chains is the risk of failure, meaning that the investigational drug is proven unsafe or ineffective during human testing and the trial is halted. Upon failure, any unused inventory is essentially wasted and needs to be destroyed. To avoid waste, manufacture...

The time continuous integrated multi-item capacitated dynamic scheduling model with non-granular lot sizes and lot start times and dynamic demand functions as its key elements has recently been developed by Jodlbauer. Here we present a reformulation for improved ease of handling as well as several methods to obtain schedules close to the optimum.