A survey of the state-of-the-art of common due date assignment and scheduling research

We aim at providing a unified framework of the common due date assignment and scheduling problems in the deterministic case by surveying the literature concerning the models involving single machine and parallel machines. The problems with due date determination have received considerable attention in the last 15 years due to the introduction of new methods of inventory management such as just-in-time (JIT) concepts. The common due date model corresponds, for instance, to an assembly system in which the components of the product should be ready at the same time, or to a shop where several jobs constitute a single customer's order. In the problems under consideration, the objective is to find an optimal value of the common due date and the related optimal schedule in order to optimize a given criterion based on the due date and the completion times of jobs. The results on the algorithms and complexity of the common due date assignment and scheduling problems are summarized.     

Single machine scheduling problems with general position-dependent processing times and past-sequence-dependent delivery times

This paper considers single machine scheduling with past-sequence-dependent (psd) delivery times, in which the processing time of a job depends on its position in a sequence. We provide a unified model for solving single machine scheduling problems with psd delivery times. We first show how this unified model can be useful in solving scheduling problems with due date assignment considerations. We analyze the problem with four different due date assignment methods, the objective function includes costs for earliness, tardiness and due date assignment. We then consider scheduling problems which do not involve due date assignment decisions. The objective function is to minimize makespan, total completion time and total absolute variation in completion times. We show that each of the problems can be reduced to a special case of our unified model and solved in O(n ³) time. In addition, we also show that each of the problems can be solved in O(nlogn) time for the spacial case with job-independent positional function.     

Single machine scheduling and due date assignment with positionally dependent processing times

We consider single machine scheduling and due date assignment problems in which the processing time of a job depends on its position in a processing sequence. The objective functions include the cost of changing the due dates, the total cost of discarded jobs that cannot be completed by their due dates and, possibly, the total earliness of the scheduled jobs. We present polynomial-time dynamic programming algorithms in the case of two popular due date assignment methods: CON and SLK. The considered problems are related to mathematical models of cooperation between the manufacturer and the customer in supply chain scheduling.     

Bicriteria problems to minimize maximum tardiness and due date assignment cost in various scheduling environments

We study bicriteria problems of minimizing maximum tardiness and total due date assignment cost in various scheduling environments. We assume that each job can be assigned a different due date without any restriction, and that each due date assignment cost is a non-decreasing function of the quoted due date. We settle the complexity of most of the problems studied by either proving that they are NP-hard or finding a polynomial time solution for them. We also include approximation and non-approximability results for several parallel-machine problems.     

Meta-heuristic approaches for minimizing total earliness and tardiness penalties of single-machine scheduling with a common due date

This study addresses a class of single-machine scheduling problems involving a common due date where the objective is to minimize the total job earliness and tardiness penalties. A genetic algorithm (GA) approach and a simulated annealing (SA) approach utilizing a greedy local search and three well-known properties in the area of common due date scheduling are developed. The developed algorithms enable the starting time of the first job not at zero and were tested using a set of benchmark problems. From the viewpoints of solution quality and computational expenses, the proposed approaches are efficient and effective for problems involving different numbers of jobs, as well as different processing time, and earliness and tardiness penalties.     

Solution strategies for multi-stage wafer probing scheduling problem with reentry

The multi-stage wafer probing scheduling problem (M-WPSP) with reentry is a practical variation of the parallel-machine scheduling problem. Since the M-WPSP involves multiple product families, to be processed on multiple stages, with various job due dates, ready times, reentry, serial and batch operations, sequential-dependent setup time, it is more difficult to solve than the classical parallel-machine scheduling problems. In this paper, we consider two strategies to solve the M-WPSP with reentry, where the total machine workload must be minimized. These two strategies incorporate a global planning mechanism, in advance, to determine the required stage due date of job at each process stage to prevent the due date problems occurring at the final stage. The sequential strategy schedules the jobs at the required stages according to the sequence of manufacturing process. The parallel strategy is designed specifically for the reentrant characteristic. To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed strategies, a set of test problems involving four critical factors, the product family ratio, the temperature-change consideration, the tightness of due dates, and the ready time, are designed to test the quality of solutions under two levels of workload.     

具有CON/SLK交货期指派的一类单机排序问题

研究工件的实际加工时间既具有指数学习效应,又依赖所消耗资源的准时制排序问题.在模型中,探讨了共同交货期(CON)和松弛交货期(SLK)两种情形.管理者的目标是确定最优序、最优资源分配方案和最佳工期(共同交货期或松弛交货期)以便极小化工件的总延误、总提前、总工期和资源消耗费用的总和.对于工件的实际加工时间是资源消耗量的线性函数的排序问题,通过将其转化为指派模型,给出了时间复杂性为O(n~3)的算法,从而证明该类排序问题是多项式时间可求解的.针对工件的实际加工时间是资源消耗量的凸函数的排序问题,也给出了多项式算法.     

A truck scheduling problem arising in intermodal container transportation

We address a truck scheduling problem that arises in intermodal container transportation, where containers need to be transported between customers (shippers or receivers) and container terminals (rail or maritime) and vice versa. The transportation requests are handled by a trucking company which operates several depots and a fleet of homogeneous trucks that must be routed and scheduled to minimize the total truck operating time under hard time window constraints imposed by the customers and terminals. Empty containers are considered as transportation resources and are provided by the trucking company for freight transportation. The truck scheduling problem at hand is formulated as Full-Truckload Pickup and Delivery Problem with Time Windows (FTPDPTW) and is solved by a 2-stage heuristic solution approach. This solution method was specially designed for the truck scheduling problem but can be applied to other problems as well. We assess the quality of our solution approach on several computational experiments.     

A sequential exchange approach for minimizing earliness–tardiness penalties of single-machine scheduling with a common due date

This study focuses on a class of single-machine scheduling problems with a common due date where the objective is to minimize the total earliness–tardiness penalty for the jobs. A sequential exchange approach utilizing a job exchange procedure and three previously established properties in common due date scheduling was developed and tested with a set of benchmark problems. The developed approach generates results better than not only those of the existing dedicated heuristics but also in many cases those of meta-heuristic approaches. And the developed approach performs consistently well in various job settings with respect to the number of jobs, processing time and earliness–tardiness penalties for the jobs.     

A unified approach for scheduling with convex resource consumption functions using positional penalties

We provide a unified model for solving single machine scheduling problems with controllable processing times in polynomial time using positional penalties. We show how this unified model can be useful in solving three different groups of scheduling problems. The first group includes four different due date assignment problems to minimize an objective function which includes costs for earliness, tardiness, due date assignment, makespan and total resource consumption. The second group includes three different due date assignment problems to minimize an objective function which includes the weighted number of tardy jobs, due date assignment costs, makespan and total resource consumption costs. The third group includes various scheduling problems which do not involve due date assignment decisions. We show that each of the problems from the first and the third groups can be reduced to a special case of our unified model and thus can be solved in O(n³)$O(n^3)$ time. Furthermore, we show how the unified model can be used repeatedly as a subroutine to solve all problems from the second group in O(n⁴)$O(n^4)$ time. In addition, we also show that faster algorithms exist for several special cases.     

Two due date assignment problems in scheduling a single machine

We study two single-machine scheduling problems: minimizing the sum of weighted earliness, tardiness and due date assignment penalties and minimizing the weighted number of tardy jobs and due date assignment costs. We prove that both problems are strongly NP-hard and give polynomial solutions for some important special cases.     

A branch and bound algorithm for scheduling jobs with controllable processing times on a single machine to meet due dates

In most deterministic scheduling problems, job-processing times are regarded as constant and known in advance. However, in many realistic environments, job-processing times can be controlled by the allocation of a common resource to jobs. In this paper, we consider the problem of scheduling jobs with arbitrary release dates and due dates on a single machine, where job-processing times are controllable and are modeled by a non-linear convex resource consumption function. The objective is to determine simultaneously an optimal processing permutation as well as an optimal resource allocation, such that no job is completed later than its due date, and the total resource consumption is minimized. The problem is strongly NP\mathcal{NP}-hard. A branch and bound algorithm is presented to solve the problem. The computational experiments show that the algorithm can provide optimal solution for small-sized problems, and near-optimal solution for medium-sized problems in acceptable computing time.     

排序问题中优化准则关于基本参数的正则性及其应用

本文提出了优化准则关于加工时间、准备时间、应交工时间的正则性，利用这种正则性对寻找参数可控排序问题中的有效值、有效解给出了一直观算法，并指出对一些具体的参数可控排序问题，其有效值、有效解的寻找可通过对这一直观算法加以具体化而得．文中还对平均流程问题给出了这样一个具体化算法．     

Fast algorithms for scheduling with learning effects and time-dependent processing times on a single machine

We consider scheduling problems with learning/deterioration effects and time-dependent processing times on a single machine, with or without due date assignment considerations. By reducing them to a special assignment problem on product matrices, we solve all these problems in near-linear time. This improves the time complexity of previous algorithms for some scheduling problems and establishes the fast polynomial solvability for several other problems.     

带学习效应和资源依赖的单机排序模型

在工业生产中,随着员工操作技能的熟练程度的增加,对于相同的任务越往后加工,所花的时间将会减少。 同时,为了尽早完工,管理者也会考虑给加工工件分配一定量的额外资源来缩短工件加工时间。 本文基于以上实例,讨论了工件的实际加工时间既具有学习效应又依赖所分配资源的单机排序问题。 在问题中,假设工件的学习效应是之前已加工工件正常加工时间和的指数函数。 同时随着分配给工件资源量的增加,工件的实际加工时间呈线性减少,所需费用呈线性增加。对这一排序模型,主要探讨以下五个目标函数:最小化最大完工时间与资源消耗量总费用的和;最小化总完工时间与资源消耗量总费用的和;最小化加权总完工时间与资源消耗量总费用的和;最小化总提前、总延误、总共同交货期与资源消耗量总费用的和以及最小化总提前、总延误、总松弛交货期与资源消耗量总费用的和。 本文对前三个目标函数相应的排序问题给出了多项式时间可求解的算法。 对后两个目标函数所涉及的排序问题借助于指派问题分别给出了时间复杂性为O(n³)的算法。     

Scheduling with batch setup times and earliness-tardiness penalties

We consider a scheduling model in which several batches of jobs need to be processed by a single machine. During processing, a setup time is incurred whenever there is a switch from processing a job in one batch to a job in another batch. All the jobs in the same batch have a common due date that is either externally given as an input data or internally determined as a decision variable. Two problems are investigated. One problem is to minimize the total earliness and tardiness penalties provided that each due date is externally given. We show that this problem is NP-hard even when there are only two batches of jobs and the two due dates are unrestrictively large. The other problem is to minimize the total earliness and tardiness penalties plus the total due date penalty provided that each due date is a decision variable. We give some optimality properties for this problem with the general case and propose a polynomial dynamic programming algorithm for solving this problem with two batches of jobs. We also consider a special case for both of the problems when the common due dates for different batches are all equal. Under this special case, we give a dynamic programming algorithm for solving the first problem with an unrestrictively large due date and for solving the second problem. This algorithm has a running time polynomial in the number of jobs but exponential in the number of batches.     

Optimal fuzzy counterparts of scheduling rules

The optimality of a fuzzy logic alternative to the usual treatment of uncertainties in a scheduling system using probability theory is examined formally. Fuzzy scheduling techniques proposed in the literature either fuzzify directly the existing scheduling rules, or solve mathematical programming problems to determine the optimal schedules. In the former method, the fuzzy optimality for the optimal scheduling rules is usually not justified but still assumed. In this paper, the necessary conditions for fuzzy optimality are defined, and fuzzy counterparts of some of the well-known scheduling rules such as shortest processing time (SPT) and earliest due date (EDD) are developed.     

Adaptive policies for multi-mode project scheduling under uncertainty

In this paper we propose an adaptive model for multi-mode project scheduling under uncertainty. We assume that there is a due date for concluding the project and a tardiness penalty for failing to meet this due date, and that several distinct modes may be used to undertake each activity. We define scheduling policies based on a set of thresholds. The starting time of the activity is compared with those thresholds in order to define the execution mode.We propose a procedure, based on the electromagnetism heuristic, for choosing a scheduling policy. In computational tests, we conclude that the adaptive scheduling policy found by using the model and the heuristic solution procedure is consistently better than the optimal non-adaptive policy. When the different modes have very different characteristics and there is a reasonable difference between the average duration of the project and the due date, the cost advantage of the adaptive policy becomes very significant.     

Single machine scheduling with randomly compressible processing times

This work is concerned with single machine scheduling with random compression of processing times. The objective is to find the optimal sequence to minimize the cost based on earliness, tardiness and compression. The analysis is carried out under a common due date. Both absolute derivation cost and squared derivation cost are considered. For both constrained problems and unconstrained problems, it is shown that an optimal schedule must be V-shaped. Remarks on common slack model is also provided.     

Scheduling problems with random processing times under expected earliness/tardiness costs

This work is concerned with scheduling problems for a single machine. Taking earliness and tardiness of completion time and due–date value into consideration, the objective function with a common due date is considered. The processing time of each job is random. Sufficient conditions guaranteeing an optimal SEPT sequence are derived. Under exponential and normal processing times, further results are obtained