Combining the Ruin and Recreate Principle and Multiobjective Optimization in RPDPTW

In various technical domains, a wide array of problems can be framed as optimization problems, in which the goal is to minimize an objective function, often referred to as a cost function, concerning some parameter constraints. Numerous optimization methods have been proposed, but many of them demand stringent mathematical conditions that make them impractical in real-world industrial scenarios. Moreover, practical problems often involve tradeoffs between multiple objectives, such as financial costs, emissions, hours of labor, and employee well-being. This complex nature of problems introduces the possibility of the absence of a solution that minimizes all the objectives simultaneously. Hence, the involvement of a decision-maker becomes crucial to establishing preferences and selecting the definitive solution. This is the essence of multiobjective optimization. Specifically, we will focus on the context of vehicle routing, a well-established problem, applying the metaheuristic known as the Ruin and Recreate principle. The instances of this problem have been generously provided by our partner, Spindox S.p.A., and reflect real-life industrial demands.