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Defining Optimization Heuristics

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Question

Defining Optimization Heuristics

Answer

Defining Optimization Heuristics

Sterling TMS provides a wide range of strategies goals and refinementsto be used for your optimization runs. You select heuristics whichcontrol how the optimizer processes each run.

You can select the following heuristics.

Feature

Description

Initial Heuristics

You define which heuristics the optimizeruses first to consolidate LTL shipments into truckloads.

Forexample you might choose to build your truckload routes based onhow close a stop is to the previous or next stop.

These heuristicsrun relatively quickly and will often consolidate most of your LTLshipments into truckloads.

Improvement Heuristics

You can also specify one or more improvementheuristics to refine the results of the optimization run.

Whenyou use these improvement heuristics:
  • The optimizer can improve the initial results. For example theoptimizer may be able to fit more LTL shipments onto fewer trucks.
  • The optimization run usually takes longer to finish.
As a best practice you should test all these heuristics to seewhich approaches meet the needs of your business. Depending on whichheuristics you use you can achieve the following goals:
  • Reduce the number of trucks. You can consolidate more LTL shipmentsinto each truckload (up to the maximum weight quantity or volumeyou defined).
  • Reduce the total distance for the truckload routes created byeach run.
  • Reduce the total number of stops.
  • Reduce the cost of the shipments.
Parent topic: Optimization Process
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Document Information

Modified date:
08 December 2018

UID

ibm10755607

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