Introduction to Cutting and Packing Optimization: Problems, Modeling Approaches, Solution Methods

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the most important and frequently considered optimization problems concerning cutting and packing. Based on appropriate modeling approaches for the problems considered, it offers an introduction to the related solution methods. It also addresses aspects like performance results for heuristic algorithms and bounds of the optimal value, as well as the packability of a given set of objects within a predefined container. The problems discussed arise in a wide variety of different fields of application and research, and as such, the fundamental knowledge presented in this book make it a valuable resource for students, practitioners, and researchers who are interested in dealing with such tasks.

Guntram Scheithauer was born in Bischofswerda, Saxony, Germany in 1954. He studied Mathematics at Technische Universität Dresden from 1974 to 1979, with a focus on Numerical Mathematics and Optimization. He received his PhD in the area of Discrete Optimization from the same institute in 1983. Throughout his career, his work has focused on both practical and theoretical aspects of cutting and packing problems. He has been a member of staff at the TU Dresden since 1983.