Solving the Online 3D Bin Packing Problem with Graph-Based Reinforcement Learning

The rapidly growing volume of parcel shipments is straining transportation and logistics sectors, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to optimize packing and loading processes. The online bin packing problem (BPP), an NP-hard computational problem, finds practical applications in numerous sectors, including modern packaging and...

Optimizing the packing strategy for parcel delivery vans

The increasing popularity of e-commerce has led to a greater emphasis on improving parcel delivery processes. Among the various stages of the delivery process, packing parcels into delivery vans affects the delivery time. The efficiency of delivery is optimized when each parcel is conveniently accessible upon arrival, thereby minimizing the...

Sequencing for the MCLP: a Comparison of a Genetic Algorithm and a Heuristic Algorithm

Labour shortage in the logistic sector and the poor work conditions as a baggage handler are a major and highly relevant problem for airports around the world. A solution is provided by Vanderlande Industies: a baggage loading robot. Since the efficiency of the stacking process is sufficient, operators that overlook the robot must intervene...

A Two-Stage 3D Bin Packing Algorithm for Groceries at Online Supermarket Picnic

The online supermarket Picnic uses the volume of groceries to pack them into totes and bags. While this generally works well, there are cases in which an article's volume fits into a designated space, but its dimensions do not. To prevent this so-called overflow, Picnic uses a maximum fill rate of 85%, which means that no tote can be filled to...

Comparing approximate and optimal solution algorithms for the Multi-Level Bin Packing problem

Multi-Level variants of classic optimisation problems are becoming more noteworthy as the complexity of real life applications increases. In this research we investigate the Multi-Level Bin Packing optimisation problem, which models, for example, global logistics and part manufacturing. We will look at the performance of solving Integer Linear...

Integer Programming Models for the Class Constrained Multi-Level Bin Packing Problem

The Multi-Level Bin Packing problem is a generalisation of the widely-known NP-hard Bin Packing problem. This work aims to investigate approaching this problem, as well as a version including Class Constraints, through integer programming. By modelling the problems in two ways: standard, and with a network flow approach. The studying of the...

Solving Integer Programming Models for the Multi-Level Bin Packing Problem with Conflict Constraints

The Multi-Level Bin Packing problem and its variants are some of the most popular combinatorial optimization problems. They have a wide range of real-life applications yet, they are some of the harder problems we know of. In this paper we solve the Multi-Level Bin Packing Problem and a variant of it, Multi-Level Bin Packing Problem with Conflict...

An Integer Programming Approach to the Multi-Level Bin Packing Problem with Partial Orders

The multi-level bin packing problem (MLBP) and its variant problem with partial orders (MLBPPO) are NP-Hard problems that can be applied in a logistical setting to improve efficiency in packing. However, despite their possible use cases, there is little to no literature on how to solve these problems in a reasonable amount of time. In this work,...

The Quasi-Online Algorithm in a Robot Packing Environment: Implementation of an Improved Bin Packing Algorithm

Privacy-Preserving Bin-Packing With Differential Privacy

With the emerging of e-commerce, package theft is at a high level: It is reported that 1.7 million packages are stolen or lost every day in the U.S. in 2020, which costs $25 million every day for the lost packages and the service. Information leakage during transportation is an important reason for theft since thieves can identify which truck is...

Development of a support tool to limit workload at a hub for Air Cargo combination Airlines via dynamic loading advices at outstations

The planning of air cargo across an airlines' network is proven to be a complex problem consisting of multiple subproblems. Currently, all these subproblems are solved sequentially and by hand, resulting in partial solutions instead of an integrated solution. Two of these subproblems are the palletization of items onto ULDs and the scheduling of...

An optimization model for 3D loading space for the transport of large steel structures

In this report, a model is presented that automates and optimizes the loading processes for the transport of steel structures at the company of ASK Romein. This transport can be captured in two main loading processes: the loading division, which consists of allocating items to different trailers, and the loading sequence, which considers placing...

A novel decision support system for optimizing aircraft maintenance check schedule and task allocation

Modern aircraft have thousands of parts, systems, and components that need to be recurrently inspected or replaced. To keep the fleet airworthy, maintenance planners have to schedule the maintenance checks for each aircraft and the associated tasks. In practice, these two complex problems are solved following the experience of planners,...

A bin packing approach to solve the aircraft maintenance task allocation problem

This paper addresses the scheduling of aircraft maintenance tasks that must be carried out in multiple maintenance checks to keep a fleet of aircraft airworthy. The allocation of maintenance tasks to maintenance opportunities, also known as the task allocation problem (TAP), is a complex combinatorial problem that needs to be solved daily by...

An efficient bin-packing algorithm applied to packing groceries in a fulfillment center

We have tried to create a bin-packing algorithm that assigns items from a customer-order to totes such that the amount of totes is minimized. Analyzing the bin-packing algorithm that was used before this thesis had been written, taught us that xxx.xx% of the customer-orders was packed non optimal. In this thesis four algorithms are applied to...

Full Color High Definition Fused Filament Fabrication

Although Full Color (FC) High Definition (HD) Additive Manufacturing (AM) machines are available on the market today, a FC HD Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) printer has yet to enter the competitive FFF market. Leapfrog, a FFF printer manufacturer, holds a patent that allows the application of coating on 3D printed FFF filament after it has...

Improving the purchase, nesting and order release process of a batch shop production process

At the sheet metal department at Fokker Aerostructures a high variety of low demand sheet metal products are produced for use in different aerospace assembly programs. The production process operates in a batch shop style of operations in order to cope with the high-variety and low-volume nature of the product mix. In order to ensure that the...