Database structure for a class of multi-period mathematical programming models

Abstract

We introduce how a generic multi-period optimization based decision support system (DSS) can be used for strategic and operational planning in a company with five fundamental elements, namely Materials, Facilities, Activities, Times and Storage-Areas. This DSS which optimizes the company’s activities over multiple-time horizon, having a multi-material, multi-facility, multi-activity system, requires little or no managerial knowledge of optimization techniques. We discuss the issues of interface design, data reporting and updating, production and profit planning. We also compare the performance of two different types of database structures with respect to optimization.