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A tree search method for the container loading problem with shipment priority

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  • Ren, Jidong
  • Tian, Yajie
  • Sawaragi, Tetsuo

Abstract

This paper addresses a special kind of container loading problem with shipment priority. We present a tree search method, which is based on a greedy heuristic. In the greedy heuristic, blocks made up of identical items with the same orientation are selected for packing into a container. Five evaluation functions are proposed for block selection, and the different blocks selected by each evaluation function constitute the branches of the search tree. A method of space splitting and merging is also embedded in the algorithm to facilitate efficient use of the container space. In addition, the proposed algorithm covers an important constraint called shipment priority to solve practical problems. The validity of the proposed algorithm is examined by comparing the present results with those of published algorithms using the same data.

Suggested Citation

  • Ren, Jidong & Tian, Yajie & Sawaragi, Tetsuo, 2011. "A tree search method for the container loading problem with shipment priority," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 214(3), pages 526-535, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:214:y:2011:i:3:p:526-535
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pisinger, David, 2002. "Heuristics for the container loading problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 382-392, September.
    2. Eley, Michael, 2002. "Solving container loading problems by block arrangement," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 393-409, September.
    3. Bischoff, E.E., 2006. "Three-dimensional packing of items with limited load bearing strength," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 168(3), pages 952-966, February.
    4. Zhihong Jin & Katsuhisa Ohno & Jiali Du, 2004. "An Efficient Approach For The Three-Dimensional Container Packing Problem With Practical Constraints," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(03), pages 279-295.
    5. Bischoff, E. E. & Ratcliff, M. S. W., 1995. "Issues in the development of approaches to container loading," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 377-390, August.
    6. F. Parreño & R. Alvarez-Valdes & J. M. Tamarit & J. F. Oliveira, 2008. "A Maximal-Space Algorithm for the Container Loading Problem," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 412-422, August.
    7. Bortfeldt, Andreas & Gehring, Hermann, 2001. "A hybrid genetic algorithm for the container loading problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(1), pages 143-161, May.
    8. Davies, A. Paul & Bischoff, Eberhard E., 1999. "Weight distribution considerations in container loading," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(3), pages 509-527, May.
    9. Wang, Zhoujing & Li, Kevin W. & Levy, Jason K., 2008. "A heuristic for the container loading problem: A tertiary-tree-based dynamic space decomposition approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 191(1), pages 86-99, November.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xianbo Xiang & Caoyang Yu & He Xu & Stuart X. Zhu, 2018. "Optimization of Heterogeneous Container Loading Problem with Adaptive Genetic Algorithm," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2018, pages 1-12, November.
    2. Wang, Ning & Lim, Andrew & Zhu, Wenbin, 2013. "A multi-round partial beam search approach for the single container loading problem with shipment priority," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 531-540.
    3. Bortfeldt, Andreas & Wäscher, Gerhard, 2013. "Constraints in container loading – A state-of-the-art review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 229(1), pages 1-20.
    4. I. Gimenez-Palacios & M. T. Alonso & R. Alvarez-Valdes & F. Parreño, 2021. "Logistic constraints in container loading problems: the impact of complete shipment conditions," TOP: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 29(1), pages 177-203, April.
    5. Toffolo, Túlio A.M. & Esprit, Eline & Wauters, Tony & Vanden Berghe, Greet, 2017. "A two-dimensional heuristic decomposition approach to a three-dimensional multiple container loading problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 257(2), pages 526-538.
    6. Tian, Tian & Zhu, Wenbin & Lim, Andrew & Wei, Lijun, 2016. "The multiple container loading problem with preference," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 248(1), pages 84-94.
    7. Sheng, Liu & Hongxia, Zhao & Xisong, Dong & Changjian, Cheng, 2016. "A heuristic algorithm for container loading of pallets with infill boxes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 252(3), pages 728-736.
    8. Vélez-Gallego, Mario C. & Teran-Somohano, Alejandro & Smith, Alice E., 2020. "Minimizing late deliveries in a truck loading problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 286(3), pages 919-928.
    9. Zhou, Chenhao & Yuan, Mengxue & Zhang, Jingwen & Zhang, Wei, 2024. "A tree search algorithm for uncertainty-considered consecutive discharging and loading operations between ship and offshore platform," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 315(2), pages 729-749.
    10. Carlos A. Vega-Mejía & Jairo R. Montoya-Torres & Sardar M. N. Islam, 2019. "Consideration of triple bottom line objectives for sustainability in the optimization of vehicle routing and loading operations: a systematic literature review," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 273(1), pages 311-375, February.
    11. Araya, Ignacio & Moyano, Mauricio & Sanchez, Cristobal, 2020. "A beam search algorithm for the biobjective container loading problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 286(2), pages 417-431.

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