The dynamic lot-size model in inventory theory, is a generalization of the economic order quantity model that takes into account that demand for the product varies over time. The model was introduced by Harvey M. Wagner and Thomson M. Whitin in 1958.

Problem setup

We have available a forecast of product demand <VAR >d</VAR ><SUB ><VAR >t</VAR > over a relevant time horizon t=1,2,...,N (for example we might know how many widgets will be needed each week for the next 52 weeks). There is a setup cost <VAR >s</VAR ><SUB ><VAR >t</VAR > incurred for each order and there is an inventory holding cost <VAR >i</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t</VAR > per item per period ( <VAR >s</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t</VAR > and <VAR >i</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t</VAR > can also vary with time if desired). The problem is how many units <VAR >x</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t</VAR > to order now to minimize the sum of setup cost and inventory cost. Let us denote inventory: The functional equation representing minimal cost policy is: Where H is the Heaviside step function. Wagner and Whitin proved the following four theorems: <VAR >x</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t</VAR > =0; ∀t <VAR >x</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t</VAR > =0 or for some k (t≤k≤N) <VAR >d</VAR ><SUB ><VAR >t*</VAR > is satisfied by some <VAR >x</VAR ><SUB ><VAR >t**</VAR > , t**<t*, then <VAR >d</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t</VAR > , t=t**+1,...,t*-1, is also satisfied by <VAR >x</VAR ><SUB ><VAR >t**</VAR >

Planning Horizon Theorem

The precedent theorems are used in the proof of the Planning Horizon Theorem. Let denote the minimal cost program for periods 1 to t. If at period t* the minimum in F(t) occurs for j = t** ≤ t*, then in periods t > t* it is sufficient to consider only t** ≤ j ≤ t. In particular, if t* = t**, then it is sufficient to consider programs such that <VAR >x</VAR ><SUB ><VAR >t*</VAR >

0.

The algorithm

Wagner and Whitin gave an algorithm for finding the optimal solution by dynamic programming. Start with t*=1: <VAR >d</VAR ><SUB ><VAR >t</VAR > , t = t**, t** + 1, ... , t*, by this order <VAR >x</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t**</VAR > ) <VAR >s</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t**</VAR > + <VAR >i</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t**</VAR > <VAR >I</VAR ><SUB><VAR >t**</VAR > to the costs of acting optimally for periods 1 to t**-1 determined in the previous iteration of the algorithm Because this method was perceived by some as too complex, a number of authors also developed approximate heuristics (e.g., the Silver-Meal heuristic ) for the problem.