Large-scale optimization planning methods for the distribution of United States army munitions

Coordinating the distribution of ammunition and scheduling strategic transportation resources during military contingency operations is a complex process. This paper presents a large-scale optimization-based planning method that uses column generation to schedule the movement of ammunition and transportation resources through a time-space network representation of the distribution system. The optimization-based planner is initialized using a feasible solution generated by a heuristic planning method. Both the optimization-based planner and the heuristic planner generate plans with improved ship utilization and delivery tardiness values as compared to plans generated using current planning techniques. In addition, the heuristic planner is implemented within a closed-loop planning and control framework, and is used to generate plans on a rolling horizon basis. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.