Solving a Hard Cutting Stock Problem by Machine Learning and Optimisation
Publication Type:
Refereed Conference Meeting Proceeding
Abstract:
We are working with a company on a hard industrial optimisation problem: a version of the well-known Cutting Stock Problem in which a paper mill must cut rolls of paper following certain cutting patterns to meet customer demands. In our problem each roll to be cut may have a different size, the cutting patterns are semi-automated so that we have only indirect control over them via a list of continuous parameters called a request, and there are multiple mills each able to use only one request. We solve the problem using a combination of machine learning and optimisation techniques. First we approximate the distribution of cutting patterns via Monte Carlo simulation. Secondly we cover the distribution by applying a k-medoids algorithm. Thirdly we use the results to build an ILP model which is then solved.
Conference Name:
European Conference on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases (ECML PKDD) 2015
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):
10.1007/978-3-319-23528-8_21
Publication Date:
07/09/2015
Conference Location:
Portugal
Research Group:
Institution:
National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC)
Open access repository:
No