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Constraint Programming for Supply Chain Management

Join us on November 21 for an insightful session on Constraint Programming (CP) and its integral role in Supply Chain Management (SCM). J. Christopher Beck from the Cork Constraint Computation Centre will uncover the essence of constraint computation, its modeling processes, heuristic searches, and the challenges in SCM. Discover how CP technology enhances vehicle routing, scheduling, and warehouse location strategies in a distributed environment. This session will highlight the practical applications of CP in addressing complex supply chain problems, paving the way for innovative solutions.

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Constraint Programming for Supply Chain Management

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  1. SCM Information Day, Nov. 21/02 Constraint Programming for Supply Chain Management J. Christopher BeckCork Constraint Computation Centre (4C) c.beck@4c.ucc.ie

  2. Outline • What is Constraint Computation? • aka Constraint Programming (CP) • What does constraint computation have to do with supply chain management?

  3. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? A Puzzle You have 5 minutes! • Place the numbers 1 through 8 in the nodes such that: • Each number appears exactly once • No connected nodes have consecutive numbers

  4. Modeling • Each node  a variable • {1, …, 8}  values in the domain of each variable • No consecutive numbers  a constraint • (vi, vj)  |vi – vj| > 1 • All values used  all-different constraint

  5. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Heuristic Search {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} 1 8

  6. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Inference/Propagation {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} 1 8 {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

  7. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Inference/Propagation {3, 4, 5, 6} {3, 4, 5, 6} 4 6 {3, 4, 5, 6, 7} {2, 3, 4, 5, 6} 7 1 8 2 3 5 {3, 4, 5, 6} {3, 4, 5, 6}

  8. The Core of Constraint Computation • Modeling • What should the variables/domains/constraints be? • Heuristic Search • Quality vs. complexity trade-off • Inference/Propagation • How much effort should be spent on inference? Focus of 4C: Automating the process of constraint modeling and solution strategy configuration

  9. Outline • What is Constraint Computation? • What does constraint computation have to do with SCM?

  10. A Commercial Reality • First-tier software vendors embed CP technology in their SCM software This is not to imply that SCM is a “solved” problem Nor that CP is (just) a matter of engineering

  11. CP & SCM • The puzzle is actually a hard problem • NP-complete • Can apply the same technology to core SCM problems • Vehicle routing • Scheduling • Warehouse location

  12. Example: Vehicle Routing [10 20] [15 15] 10 [10 20] [25 20] 15 10 Depot

  13. Example: Vehicle Routing [10 20] [20 20] 10 [10 20] [10 10] 15 10 Depot

  14. SCM is Distributed

  15. Distributed Problem Solving • SCM cannot be solved centrally • Problem size, authority, corporate structure • Distributed problem solving is key • Sub-problems are still important (and hard!)

  16. SCM-related Research at 4C • Scheduling & vehicle routing • Distributed scheduling • Negotiation & privacy • Soft constraints & preferences • Focus on reducing the cognitive load for using existing technology

  17. Research at 4C: Extending SCM • Concurrent engineering • Extend the supply chain to design phase • On-line configuration • Bring the individual into the supply chain • Dealing with uncertainty • The course of true SCM never did run smooth

  18. Take Home Message • CP is a commercial reality in SCM • Insight into the core of CP technology • 4C is pushing the bounds of CP • Automation of hard parts of using CP • Application of CP to new problems • 4C is interested is SCM • Application for on-going research • New opportunities

  19. 4C - Contact Information Director:Professor Gene Freuder E-mail: e.freuder@4c.ucc.ie External Liaison Officer:Dr. James Little Phone: +353-(0)21-4255410 E-mail: j.little@4c.ucc.ie Post: 4C, UCC, Cork, Ireland www.4c.ucc.ie

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