Branch-and-Price on the Split Delivery Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and Alternative Delivery Periods

In this article we address the Split Delivery Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and alternative Periods (SDVRPTWA). The consideration of multiple delivery periods per customer and the possibility of splitting deliveries across different periods makes it a relaxation of the well-known Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and Split Deliveries (VRPTWSD). The problem is solved by a branch-and-price method. The opportunity for freight forwarders is to plan more efficient tours by exploiting alternative delivery periods. The contribution of this article is to prove the potential of this approach for cost savings and to demonstrate the decomposition of a SDVRPTWA in a demand focused master problem and period related pricing problems.