9322828 Simchi-Levi The emphasis in this research is to perform a theoretical analysis of vehicle routing problems with the objective of developing robust and efficient algorithms for the problems. The objective is to be attained through the understanding of the underlying theoretical structure of optimal solutions and using the results to develop practical and efficient algorithms that take advantage of this structure. To understand the underlying structure, different variant forms of vehicle routing problems will be analyzed to develop and implement different algorithms. This research has a good potential to produce some additional insight into the vehicle routing problem. Such insight is critical in developing efficient algorithms for this class of problems. Vehicle routing problem exist in both the public and private sectors. Improvement in the vehicle routing can produce efficiency in fleet management, and consequently, significant savings in travel time and operating cost. The importance of this problem is well demonstrated by the support the research is receiving from a key member of the users community of the research output, namely, school systems.
