Two-dimensional bin packing, cutting stock, and open dimension problems: A survey of practical requirements

Two-dimensional cutting and packing (C&P) problems involve cutting one or more objects into a set of items, resulting in cutting patterns. C&P problems are found in various real-life applications such as the steel, wood, paper, and glass industries, where industrial aspects like raw material reuse, defective objects, trim distance, cutting patterns based on item similarity, and/or demand uncertainty influence the development of solving methods. This article presents a systematic literature review of industrial aspects addressed in cutting-related applications of C&P problems, with a specific focus on two-dimensional bin packing, cutting stock, and open dimension problems. From a sample of 100 articles, 13 key industrial aspects were identified across 13 industry sectors, highlighting how these aspects are incorporated into solving methods. The review also outlines practical benefits observed in real-life applications and proposes a framework to support the implementation of solving methods. Emerging research trends in the C&P area are also discussed. Considering industrial aspects in the design of solving methods contributes to advances in manufacturing, improving production efficiency by reducing raw material waste, cutting costs, and minimizing the time required to generate cutting patterns.