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Solving a Real World Assignment Problem with a Metaheuristic

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Abstract

This paper investigates a real world assignment problem, which slightly differs from the classical generalized assignment problem (GAP). The large-scale number of variables in the related 0-1 linear program makes the use of commercial optimization packages impractical. We present here a metaheuristic using simulated annealing. It is based on successive reductions of the search space by identification of locally active constraints. Our approach employs a heuristic procedure to compute an initial (feasible or infeasible) 0/1 solution, and a double-criterion acceptance rule. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated on real data sets.

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Privault, C., Herault, L. Solving a Real World Assignment Problem with a Metaheuristic. Journal of Heuristics 4, 383–398 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009618009594

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009618009594

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