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A New Bottom-Left-Fill Heuristic Algorithm for the Two-Dimensional Irregular Packing Problem

Author

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  • Edmund Burke

    (School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Nottingham NG8 1BB, United Kingdom)

  • Robert Hellier

    (School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Nottingham NG8 1BB, United Kingdom)

  • Graham Kendall

    (School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Nottingham NG8 1BB, United Kingdom)

  • Glenn Whitwell

    (School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Nottingham NG8 1BB, United Kingdom)

Abstract

This paper presents a new heuristic algorithm for the two-dimensional irregular stock-cutting problem, which generates significantly better results than the previous state of the art on a wide range of established benchmark problems. The developed algorithm is able to pack shapes with a traditional line representation, and it can also pack shapes that incorporate circular arcs and holes. This in itself represents a significant improvement upon the state of the art. By utilising hill climbing and tabu local search methods, the proposed technique produces 25 new best solutions for 26 previously reported benchmark problems drawn from over 20 years of cutting and packing research. These solutions are obtained using reasonable time frames, the majority of problems being solved within five minutes. In addition to this, we also present 10 new benchmark problems, which involve both circular arcs and holes. These are provided because of a shortage of realistic industrial style benchmark problems within the literature and to encourage further research and greater comparison between this and future methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Edmund Burke & Robert Hellier & Graham Kendall & Glenn Whitwell, 2006. "A New Bottom-Left-Fill Heuristic Algorithm for the Two-Dimensional Irregular Packing Problem," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 54(3), pages 587-601, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:54:y:2006:i:3:p:587-601
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.1060.0293
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Akang Wang & Christopher L. Hanselman & Chrysanthos E. Gounaris, 2018. "A customized branch-and-bound approach for irregular shape nesting," Journal of Global Optimization, Springer, vol. 71(4), pages 935-955, August.
    2. Eunice López-Camacho & Gabriela Ochoa & Hugo Terashima-Marín & Edmund Burke, 2013. "An effective heuristic for the two-dimensional irregular bin packing problem," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 206(1), pages 241-264, July.
    3. Juan Lu & Chengyi Ou & Chen Liao & Zhenkun Zhang & Kai Chen & Xiaoping Liao, 2021. "Formal modelling of a sheet metal smart manufacturing system by using Petri nets and first-order predicate logic," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 1043-1063, April.
    4. Edmund K. Burke & Graham Kendall & Glenn Whitwell, 2009. "A Simulated Annealing Enhancement of the Best-Fit Heuristic for the Orthogonal Stock-Cutting Problem," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 21(3), pages 505-516, August.
    5. Liu, D.S. & Tan, K.C. & Huang, S.Y. & Goh, C.K. & Ho, W.K., 2008. "On solving multiobjective bin packing problems using evolutionary particle swarm optimization," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 190(2), pages 357-382, October.
    6. Sato, André Kubagawa & Martins, Thiago Castro & Gomes, Antonio Miguel & Tsuzuki, Marcos Sales Guerra, 2019. "Raster penetration map applied to the irregular packing problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 279(2), pages 657-671.
    7. López-Camacho, Eunice & Terashima-Marín, Hugo & Ochoa, Gabriela & Conant-Pablos, Santiago Enrique, 2013. "Understanding the structure of bin packing problems through principal component analysis," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 488-499.
    8. Fabio Furini & Enrico Malaguti & Dimitri Thomopulos, 2016. "Modeling Two-Dimensional Guillotine Cutting Problems via Integer Programming," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 736-751, November.
    9. Miguel Santoro & Felipe Lemos, 2015. "Irregular packing: MILP model based on a polygonal enclosure," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 235(1), pages 693-707, December.
    10. Alvarez-Valdes, R. & Martinez, A. & Tamarit, J.M., 2013. "A branch & bound algorithm for cutting and packing irregularly shaped pieces," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 463-477.
    11. E. K. Burke & R. S. R. Hellier & G. Kendall & G. Whitwell, 2010. "Irregular Packing Using the Line and Arc No-Fit Polygon," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(4-part-1), pages 948-970, August.
    12. Donald Jones, 2014. "A fully general, exact algorithm for nesting irregular shapes," Journal of Global Optimization, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 367-404, July.
    13. Chehrazad, Sahar & Roose, Dirk & Wauters, Tony, 2022. "A fast and scalable bottom-left-fill algorithm to solve nesting problems using a semi-discrete representation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 300(3), pages 809-826.
    14. J A Bennell & J F Oliveira, 2009. "A tutorial in irregular shape packing problems," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(1), pages 93-105, May.
    15. Ruibin Bai & Graham Kendall, 2008. "A Model for Fresh Produce Shelf-Space Allocation and Inventory Management with Freshness-Condition-Dependent Demand," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 20(1), pages 78-85, February.
    16. Hakim Akeb & Mhand Hifi, 2010. "A hybrid beam search looking-ahead algorithm for the circular packing problem," Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 101-130, August.

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