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Heuristic algorithms for general k-level facility location problems

Author

Listed:
  • R Li

    (Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China)

  • H-C Huang

    (National University of Singapore, Singapore)

  • J Huang

    (Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China)

Abstract

In a general k-level uncapacitated facility location problem (k-GLUFLP), we are given a set of demand points, denoted by D, where clients are located. Facilities have to be located at a given set of potential sites, which is denoted by F in order to serve the clients. Each client needs to be served by a chain of k different facilities. The problem is to determine some sites of F to be set up and to find an assignment of each client to a chain of k facilities so that the sum of the setup costs and the shipping costs is minimized. In this paper, for a fixed k, an approximation algorithm within a factor of 3 of the optimum cost is presented for k-GLUFLP under the assumption that the shipping costs satisfy the properties of metric space. In addition, when no fixed cost is charged for setting up the facilities and k=2, we show that the problem is strong NP-complete and the constant approximation factor is further sharpen to be 3/2 by a simple algorithm. Furthermore, it is shown that this ratio analysis is tight.

Suggested Citation

  • R Li & H-C Huang & J Huang, 2013. "Heuristic algorithms for general k-level facility location problems," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 64(1), pages 106-113, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:jorsoc:v:64:y:2013:i:1:p:106-113
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