Optimization of Cutting Large Amounts of Dense Material

Abstract

The effective operation of any manufacturing enterprise cannot be achieved without optimal allocation of available resources. Efficient distribution of input materials, entering production, and procurement costs are significant parts of production costs. One of the primary requirements to ensure a given company's production efficiency and competitive capability is its optimization. An area within this context is the distribution of, for instance, dense material required for constructing concrete structures such as bridges, roads, buildings, and more. When cutting dense material, it is necessary to create a plan for optimal cutting to minimize waste. This paper aims to create a methodology for optimizing the cutting of metal rods with the goal of waste reduction. The software MS Excel and Python solutions have been developed and used based on the methods employed. The computed solutions can serve as a foundation for creating a data repository, which holds information about purchased materials and realized production and material remnants that can be utilized in subsequent cutting. Elements of the data repository will encompass cutting plans and remnants resulting from the implementation of calculated cutting plans. The data repository enables a multidimensional view for managing the cutting process.