FICO™ Xpress

FICO^™ Xpress Optimization Suite offers a complete range of modelling and numerical optimisation tools. Those solutions are then integrated to specialized solutions giving decisional elements to complex problems. FICO^™ Xpress can be used in various sectors.

In logistic, those solutions are used for the establishment of logistic director schemes, but also for transportation planning and the establishment of optimised production planning.

Workforce planning (aviation sector, health, public transport, etc.) and optimisation in the distribution sector are also key targets. In this framework, FICO™ Retail Action Manager is the specialised application which has been developed and needs to be mentioned.

Defining an investment strategy on a telecommunication or electricity network, establishing a mid-term electric production plan can be as well solved by Xpress Optimisation Suite.

The financial sector uses also those solutions, notably for portfolio optimisation.

FICO^™ Xpress Optimization Suite, a complete suite of optimization

The numerical efficiency of those software is acknowledged worldwide. Xpress algorithms in linear programming, linear programming in integer variables and constraints programming are remarkably reliable and extremely fast.

If this algorithm efficiency implemented by Xpress is remarkable, there is no need for long and costly development to benefit from it. Thanks to Xpress-Mosel modeller, developing an application in a few day is possible: this language extremely synthetic, close to mathematical language, give you a expression capacity which reduces considerably your development time.

C/C++, Java, C# and Visual Basic libraries allow using Xpress in complex decision support and optimisation applications. Among others, the Xpress-BCL component allows you formulating quickly your problems thanks to objects variables, constraints, linear or quadratic expressions. Running problems previously written with Xpress-Mosel modeller is also possible.

FICO^™ Xpress Optimization Suite components are described below:

FICO^™ Xpress Optimization Suite, a group of numerical calculation components

Xpress-Optimizer

Xpress-Optimizer is the global solution for all linear and quadratic problems, whether they are continuous, in integer numbers or in mix variables:

• Simplex method for linear and quadratic continuous problems.

• Interior points’ method for linear, quadratic and non linear convex continuous large problems (Barrier LP&QP module).

• Branch-and-Bound/Branch-and-Cut method for linear and quadratic problems in integer numbers (MIP and MIQP modules)

Xpress-SLP

Xpress-SLP is a numerical component to solve non linear and non linear in integer numbers optimisation problems. Those problems solve by Xpress-SLP can be entirely modelled in Xpress-Mosel. Xpress-SLP is based on a Successive Linear Programming method which approximates the non linear problem through a succession of linear problems.

Xpress-SLP module of stochastic programming solves linear problems where the data are random variables.

Xpress-Kalis

Xpress-Kalis module supplies an access to Artelys Kalis solver from Mosel; it allows modelling and solving combinatory problems using constraints programming techniques. The add-ons developed for the constraints programming solver (new constraints, new research strategies, etc.) are directly useable in Mosel language.

Academic partnership

Artelys offers partnership programs with universities and other public training and research centres. These partnerships aim at promoting teaching and research in optimization. Academic partners get FICO™ Xpress Optimization Suite licenses at discounted prices.

For further information, please contact us.

Features

FICO™ Xpress helps organizations to develop and deploy optimization applications that provide operational solutions for key business challenges.

FICO™ Xpress allows to…

• Solve large complex problems
• Gain insight into the sensitivities of key business factors
• Compress time-to-decisions
• Gain competitive advantage through better use of resources

Key features

• Large scale optimization problems solving
• Fast optimization models development
• Full range of optimization engines
• Calculation models visual design tools

Programming interfaces

Operating systems

Examples

Download FICO™ Xpress examples here.

Mining and process industries

• Production of alloys
• Animal food production
• Refinery
• Cane sugar production
• Opencast mining
• Production of electricity

Scheduling problems

• Construction of a stadium
• Flow-shop scheduling
• Job shop scheduling
• Sequencing jobs on a bottleneck machine
• Paint production
• Assembly line balancing

Production planning

• Planning the production of bicycles
• Production of drinking glasses
• Material Requirement Planning
• Planning the production of electronic components
• Planning the production of fibreglass
• Assignment of production batches to machines

Loading and cutting stock problems

• Wagon load balancing
• Barge loading
• Tank loading
• Backing up files
• Cutting sheet metal
• Cutting steel bar for desk legs

Ground transport

• Car rental
• Choosing the mode of transport
• Depot location
• Heating oil delivery
• Combining different modes of transport
• Fleet planning for vans

Air transport

• Flight connections at a hub
• Composing flight crews
• Scheduling flight landings
• Airline hub location
• Planning a flight tour

Telecommunication problems

• Network reliability
• Dimensioning of a mobile phone network
• Routing telephone calls
• Construction of a cabled network
• Scheduling of telecommunication via satellite
• Location of GSM transmitters

Economics and finance problems

• Choice of loan
• Publicity campaign
• Portfolio selection
• Financing an early retirement scheme
• Family budget
• Choice of expansion projects
• Mean variance portfolio selection

Timetabling and personnel planning

• Assigning personnel to machine
• Scheduling nurses
• Establishing a college timetable
• Exam scheduling
• Production planning with personnel assignment
• Planning the personnel at a construction site

Local authorities and public services

• Water conveyance / water supply management
• CCTV surveillance
• Rigging elections
• Gritting roads
• Location of income tax offices
• Efficiency of hospitals

Puzzles and pastimes

• Mastermind
• Logical problem 1
• Logical problem 2
• Grid and coins
• Wine barrels
• The N queens

Documentations

Getting started

Brochures

FICO™ Xpress Optimization Suite

Xpress Optimizer

Xpress-SLP

White papers

Modeling with Xpress

Embedding Optimization Algorithms

MIP formulations and linearizations

Hybrid MIP/CP solving

Retail space planning and optimization

Evaluate/Download

To evaluate FICO™ Xpress Optimization Suite, please use FICO™’s website.

FAQ

If you have any question please contact info-xpress@artelys.com.