We consider the batch processing of orders where either whole or part of a single order or a specific pair of different orders may be grouped in a batch with a fixed capacity. The problem can be modelled by a graph
G = (
V,
E), where each node
v
Î{\in}
V corresponds to an order, its weight
w(
v) corresponds to the amount of ordered quantity and a pair of orders, say
u and
v may be grouped in a batch if there exists the edge (
u,
v)
Î{\in}
E. The objective is to maximize the number of batches filled up to its capacity
l\lambda
. In this paper, we prove that the problem is NP-hard and, moreover, that no PTAS exists unless
P =
NP. Then, an optimal algorithm is developed with running time
O(|
V|log |
V|) for the special case when
G is a tree.
Keywords batch processing - three dimensional matching - tree