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A branch and bound algorithm for the generalized assignment problem

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Abstract

This paper describes what is termed the “generalized assignment problem”. It is a generalization of the ordinary assignment problem of linear programming in which multiple assignments of tasks to agents are limited by some resource available to the agents. A branch and bound algorithm is developed that solves the generalized assignment problem by solving a series of binary knapsack problems to determine the bounds. Computational results are cited for problems with up to 4 000 0–1 variables, and comparisons are made with other algorithms.

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This research was partly supported by ONR Contracts N00014-67-A-0126-0008 and N00014-67-A-0126-0009 with the Center for Cybernetic Studies, The University of Texas.

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Ross, G.T., Soland, R.M. A branch and bound algorithm for the generalized assignment problem. Mathematical Programming 8, 91–103 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01580430

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01580430

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