Abstract:

Over the years, column generation based algorithms such as branch and price have been the preferred solution techniques for the classical cutting stock problem (CSP). However, most cutting stock problems encountered in the real world are variants of the classical CSP with many more complexities. The exact algorithms have been found wanting for these variant problems such as cutting stock with knives setup considerations, pattern minimization, ordered cutting stock, order spread minimization, minimization of open stacks, CSP with contiguity, CSP with due dates and service level considerations, CSP with multiple objectives and integration of the cutting stock problem with other production processes. This paper studies the cutting stock variants with an emphasis on the optimality of solutions obtained by the approximate methods.

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