This paper is focusing on an important transportation application encountered in supply chains, namely the capacitated two-stage fixed-charge transportation problem. For solving this complex optimization problem we described a novel hybrid heuristic approach obtained by combining a genetic algorithm based on a hash table coding of the individuals with a powerful local search procedure. The prop...

This article considers the two-stage fixed-charge transportation problem which models an important transportation application in a supply chain, from manufacturers to customers through distribution centers. For solving this optimization problem we describe a hybrid algorithm that combines a steady-state genetic algorithm with a local search procedure. The computational results for an often used...

We analyze degeneracy characterizations for two classical problems: the transportation paradox in linear transportation problems and the pure constant fixed charge transportation problem. Solving the pure constant fixed charge problem is equivalent to finding a basic tree solution with maximum degree of degeneracy. Problems possess degenerate solutions if the equal subsum property is satisfied ...

In this paper, we consider the step fixed-charge transportation problem (FCTP) in which a step fixed cost, sometimes called a setup cost, is incurred if another related variable assumes a nonzero value. In order to solve the problem, two metaheuristic, a spanning tree-based genetic algorithm (GA) and a spanning tree-based memetic algorithm (MA), are developed for this NP-hard problem. For compa...

This paper presents a branching method for the solution of the fixed charge transportation problem. Starting with a linear formulation of the problem, we develop the method which converges to the optimal solution. The method is based on the computation of a lower bound and an upper bound embedded within a branching process. We present a detailed numerical example to illustrate the proposed meth...

The Fixed Charge Transportation Problem (FCTP) is a generalization of the well-known Transportation Problem, where the cost for sending goods from origins to destinations is composed of a fixed cost and a continuous cost proportional to the amount of goods sent. In practical applications, the fixed costs may represent toll charges on highways, landing fees at airports, setup costs in production...