hybrid algorithm obtained the optimal solution and
the # represents that the hybrid algorithm obtained
a better or equal solution compared with the best
heuristic solution known.
It is observed that the hybrid algorithm has
obtained optimal solution in 19 out of 56 problems
analyzed, 9 in problems of less complexity (series
1) and 10 in more complex problems (series 2).
By comparing with the best heuristic methods,
the hybrid algorithm provides better solutions in 37
of the 56 problems analyzed and proved to be more
efficient than other heuristic methods applied to
Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows.
Increasing the number of customers provides an
increase in computational complexity, which
shows the characteristics of the three techniques.
The Tabu Search intensifies the search in
promising regions, however cannot diversify
effectively. The Genetic Algorithm has proven
ineffective to intensify the search in promising
regions, compared to Tabu Search, however, leads
to a wider search in the search space, reaching
areas not explored by Tabu Search. Combining the
power of diversification of Genetic Algorithm and
the power of intensification of Tabu Search, the
Hybrid Algorithm promotes a broader search space
without losing the power of intensification, which
can be seen in the solutions obtained.
5 CONCLUSIONS
This paper addresses the Capacitated Vehicle
Routing Problem with Time Windows, which must
obeys the capacity constraints of the vehicle and
the time windows of customer service to solve this
problem. Moreover, the metaheuristics Tabu
Search and Genetic Algorithms has been used in a
hybrid algorithm.
Analyzing the results, it is found also that the
Tabu Search obtained better solutions than the
Genetic Algorithm for Capacitated Vehicle
Routing Problem with Time Windows with
smaller standard deviations. This is due to the
intensification policy, which promotes a local
search in promising regions. The experiments
show that the Hybrid Algorithm has higher
efficiency in obtaining better solutions, compared
to Tabu Search and Genetic Algorithm, and it is
still more efficient, generating minor standard
deviations. Although the Hybrid Algorithm has
used the characteristics of both techniques, the
computational time does not undergo a significant
increase, since the difference is only a few seconds
relative to Tabu Search and the Genetic Algorithm.
When comparing the results obtained by
different techniques, the Genetic Algorithm do not
get good quality solutions, compared to Tabu
Search and Hybrid Algorithm. The Tabu Search is
more efficient in some cases, surpassing some
results obtained by the Hybrid Algorithm in
problems of less complexity. However, it looks
inefficient compared to the Hybrid Algorithm, with
the increase in the complexity of the problems. The
Hybrid Algorithm developed shows itself flexible
and efficient in obtaining good quality solutions
for all types of problems analyzed. It is noteworthy
that the Hybrid Algorithm obtained many solutions
known a priori as optimal, and obtained better
solutions for most problems compared with the
best heuristic solutions.
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