For cutting and stocking problem an intuitive solution proposal: Metal block processing plant practice

The main purpose of the business is to survive by maintaining its profitability. In production enterprises; many factors that affect business survival, such as planning and stock keeping, need to be considered. In today's manifacturing conditions, being in an adventageous position in terms of time and cost is forefront. In the iron and steel industry which is subjected to this thesis, many cost elements occur during the operations such as supply, storage, slicing, cutting, pressing, grinding, etc. Therefore, during these operations, extra costs can be experienced both in terms of the equipment and human power of the facility. This thesis study focuses on the suaitable part placing, cutting planning and minimization of material loss problems encountered at the cutting and stocking steps during the process of manifacturing in the mentioned industrial branch. Size diversity of cutted pieces and size diversity of resultant smaller parts situations those encountered during the cutting operation makes it difficult to solve the cutting problem. For this reason, the knowledge which is formed by experience, habits and intution of the employees or decision makers who perform the planning can not help the solution of the problem. At this point, mathematical modes steps in. Mathematical models both give precise results by the help of lineer programming and includes designs that deliver fast results using heuristic or meta-heuristic tchniques based on computer help. For the purpose of the mentioned analysis, "Least Wasted First" heuristic which was developed for the solution of the packaging problem has been adapted for cutting and stocking problem by becoming suitable for guillotine cutting. At the same time, for the part placement, effectiveness of this heuristic has been increased by combining it with the "Decreasing First" heuristic. Key Words: Cutting and Stocking, Heuristic Tecniques, Iron Steel Industry