The Cutting Stock Problem for the Stockholder of Steel Reinforcement Bars

Abstract

The stockholder of steel reinforcement bars supplies cut lengths to its customers to be used principally in prestressed concrete. The bars which the customers order must be supplied to an exact length and are cut from standard stocked lengths. Any off-cuts which remain may be used for subsequent customers, or rejected as scrap. Methods for reducing scrap level have been devised which incorporate the techniques of integer programming, but they are difficult to apply. The alternative is a heuristic solution which takes full account of the practical needs of the steel stockholder and maintains a balance between off-cuts and scrap. Such a system has been in operation at Jones Reinforcement Limited for the past twelve years.