The 34th IPP Symposium
Combinatorial Optimization in Supply Chain Sourcing and Production Planning
Andrew Davenport, IBM T.J.Watson Research Center
In recent years researchers from IBM have worked alongside consultants to deliver specialized software solutions to customers based on cutting-edge research. In this talk we present two success stories arising from such collaborations involving the application of combinatorial optimization technology. For the first application we developed optimization tools for evaluating bids submitted to complex volume discount auctions with side constraints, in the context of procurement in the supply chain of a large food manufacturer. For the second application we developed a range of tools for detailed production planning and scheduling in the steel industry. We conclude by discussing some of the challenges of applying combinatorial optimization in real world.
