Approximate Solutions for Deterministic and Stochastic Multi-Dimensional Sequencing

We investigate the problem of sequencing jobs that have multiple components. Each component of the job needs to be processed independently on a specified machine. We derive approximate algorithms for the problem of scheduling such vector jobs to minimize their total completion time in the deterministic as well as stochastic setting. In particular, we propose … Read more

A new lower bound for one-machine earliness-tardiness scheduling

In one-machine scheduling, MIP time-indexed formulations are often used to provide very good lower bounds through Lagrangian relaxations. In order to get an improved lower bound, we add valid cuts to a time-indexed formulation and show we still have a Lagrangian relaxation that can be solved as a shortest path in a graph. Two branch-and-bound … Read more

Hybrid heuristics for the permutation flow shop problem

The Flow Shop Problem (FSP) is known to be NP-hard when more than three machines are considered. Thus, for non-trivial size problem instances, heuristics are needed to find good orderings. We consider the permutation case of this problem. For this case, denoted by F|prmu|Cmax, the sequence of jobs has to remain the same at each … Read more

Polyhedral combinatorics of a resource-constrained ordering problem part II: on the process move program polytope

This paper is the second of a series of two devoted to the polyhedral study of a strongly NP-hard resource-constrained scheduling problem, referred to as the process move programming problem. In the present paper, we put back into the picture the capacity constraints which were ignored in the first paper. In doing so, we introduce … Read more

Polyhedral combinatorics of a resource-constrained ordering problem part I: on the partial linear ordering polytope

This paper is the first of a series of two devoted to the polyhedral study of a strongly NP-hard resource-constrained scheduling problem, referred to as the process move programming problem. This problem arises in relation to the operability of certain high-availability real time distributed systems. After a brief introduction to the problem as well as … Read more

Exponential neighborhood search for a parallel machine scheduling problem

We consider the parallel machine scheduling problem where jobs have different earliness-tardiness penalties and a restrictive common due date. This problem is NP-hard in the strong sense. In this paper we define an exponential size neighborhood for this problem and prove that finding the local minimum in it is an NP-hard problem. The main contribution … Read more

Approximate resolution of a resource-constrained scheduling problem

This paper is devoted to the approximate resolution of a strongly NP-hard resource-constrained scheduling problem which arises in relation to the operability of certain high availability real time distributed systems. We present an algorithm based on the simulated annealing metaheuristic and, building on previous research on exact resolution methods, extensive computational results demonstrating its practical … Read more

On a resource-constrained scheduling problem with application to distributed systems reconfiguration

This paper is devoted to the study of a resource-constrained scheduling problem which arises in relation to the operability of certain high availability real-time distributed systems. After a brief survey of the literature, we prove the NP-hardness of the problem and exhibit a few polynomial special cases. We then present a branch-and-bound algorithm for the … Read more

A branch-and-cut algorithm for a resource-constrained scheduling problem

This paper is devoted to the exact resolution of a strongly NP-hard resource-constrained scheduling problem, the Process Move Programming problem, which arises in relation to the operability of certain high availability real time distributed systems. Based on the study of the polytope defined as the convex hull of the incidence vectors of the admissible process … Read more

New solution approaches to the general single machine earliness-tardiness problem

This paper addresses the general single-machine earliness-tardiness problem with distinct release dates, due dates, and unit costs. The aim of this research is to obtain an exact nonpreemptive solution in which machine idle time is allowed. In a hybrid approach, we formulate and then solve the problem using dynamic programming (DP) while incorporating techniques from … Read more