Reducing patient-flow delays in surgical suites through determining start-times of surgical cases

A scheduling strategy to determine starting times of surgeries in multiple operating rooms (OR) is presented. The constraints are resource limit of a downstream facility, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and the service time uncertainties. Given sets of surgeries that need to be done on a day, this problem is formulated as a flexible job shop model with fuzzy sets. Patient-waitings in the process flow, clinical resource idling, and total completion times are considered for evaluation. This multi-objective problem is solved by a two-stage decision process. A genetic algorithm is used for determining relative order of surgeries in the first stage and definite starting times for all the surgical cases are obtained by a decision-heuristic in the second stage. The resultant schedule is evaluated by a Monte-Carlo simulation. The performance is shown to be better than our previous approach, a simulation based scheduling which already outperforms simple scheduling rules in regional hospitals. Additionally, the ratio of PACU to OR is examined using the proposed scheduling strategy.     

An Optimization Model for Stochastic Project Networks with Cash Flows

Project networks – or PERT networks – can be characterized by random completion times of activities and positive or negative cash flows throughout the project. In these cases the decision maker’s problem consists of determining a feasible activities schedule, to maximize the project financial value, where the financial value is measured by the net present value (npv) of cash flows.The analysis of these networks is a difficult computational task for the following reason. First, suppose that a schedule is fixed using a heuristic rule. Then the expected npv is calculated. But, due to stochastic job completion times, this problem belongs to the ♯-P complete difficulty class, e.g. problems that involve finding all the Hamiltonian cycles in a network. The problem is such that evaluating one project alone is not sufficient, but the optimal one has to be selected. This involves a further increase in computational time.This paper proposes a stochastic optimization model to determine a heuristic scheduling rule, that provides an approximate solution to finding the optimal project npv. A feature of this approach is that the scheduling rule is completely deterministic and defined when the project begins. Therefore an upper bound of the expected npv, that is an optimistic estimate, can be calculated through linear programming and a lower bound, that is a pessimistic estimate, can be calculated using simulation before the project begins.     

Note on “A note on single-machine group scheduling problems with position-based learning effect”

In a recent paper, Lee and Wu [W.-C. Lee, C.-C. Wu, A note on single-machine group scheduling problems with position-based learning effect, Appl. Math. Model. 33 (2009) 2159–2163] proposed a new group scheduling learning model where the learning effect not only depends on the job position, but also depends on the group position. They investigate the makespan and the total completion time minimization problems on a single-machine. As for the total completion time minimization problem, they assumed that the numbers of jobs in each group are the same and the group normal setup and the job normal processing times are agreeable. Under the assumption conditions, they showed that the total completion time minimization problem can be optimally solved in polynomial time solution. However, the assumption conditions for the total completion time minimization problem do not reflect actual practice in many manufacturing processes. Hence, in this note, we propose other agreeable conditions and show that the total completion time minimization problem remains polynomially solvable under the agreeable conditions.     

Preemptive scheduling of interval orders is polynomial

In 1979, Papadimitriou and Yannakakis gave a polynomial time algorithm for the scheduling of jobs requiring unit completion times when the precedence constraints form an interval order. The authors solve here the corresponding problem, for preemptive scheduling (a job can be interrupted to work on more important tasks, and completed at a later time, subject to the usual scheduling constraints.) The m-machine preemptive scheduling problem is shown to have a polynomial algorithm, for both unit time and variable execution times as well, when the precedence constraints are given by an interval order.     

NP-hardness of the single-variable-resource scheduling problem to minimize the total weighted completion time

Baker and Nuttle [K.R. Baker, H.L.W. Nuttle, Sequencing independent jobs with a single resource, Naval Research Logistics Quarterly 27 (1980) 499–510] studied the following single-variable-resource scheduling problem: sequencing n jobs for processing by a single resource to minimize a function of job completion times, when the availability of the resource varies over time. When the objective function to be minimized is the total weighted completion time, Baker and Nuttle conjectured that the problem is NP-hard. We show in this note that the conjecture is true.     

Preemptive Scheduling with Two Minimax Criteria

Two preemptive single-machine bicriteria scheduling problems with release dates and deadlines are considered in this paper. Each criterion is formulated as a maximum cost. In the first problem the cost of both criteria depends on the completion time of the tasks. This problem can be solved by enumerating all the Pareto optimal points with an approach proposed by Hoogeveen (1996) for the nonpreemptive problem without release dates. In the second problem, the costs of one criterion are dependent on the completion times of the tasks and the costs of the other criterion are dependent on the start times. This problem is more difficult but an efficient algorithm is proposed for a sub-problem with heads, tails, release dates and deadlines that appears in the job-shop scheduling problem.     

Sequencing and scheduling N customers for a stochastic server

In this paper, we study the problem of sequencing and scheduling N customers for a single-server system. The goal is to balance the expected customer flow times and the expected system completion time. Customers are scheduled to enter the system by appointments only and the service times are exponentially distributed with different rates. The optimization of such a system involves determining the customer service order (sequencing) and the interarrival times (scheduling). We show that the service order depends upon the order of service rates and the optimal schedule can be obtained by solving a set of nonlinear equations. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the method.     

Batch sizing and job sequencing on a single machine

We study a single-machine scheduling problem in which the items to be processed have to be batched as well as sequenced. Since processed items become available in batches, flow times are defined to be the same for all items in the same batch. A constant set-up delay is incurred between consecutive batches. For any fixed, but arbitrary item sequence, we present an algorithm that finds a sequence of batches such that the total flow time of the items is minimized; we prove that for a set ofn items, the algorithm runs inO(n) time. We show that, among all sequences, the one leading to the minimum flow time has the items in non-decreasing order of running times. Thus, the optimal algorithm for the combined problem, called thebatch-sizing problem, runs inO(n logn) time. We also prove that this algorithm yields an improved solution to a scheduling problem recently studied by Baker [1].     

加工时间可控单机加权总完工时间Pareto优化研究

针对单机环境最优化加权总完工时间问题,当工件加工时间可通过分配资源进行压缩时,研究对工件的加工次序和时间压缩量的优化,从而权衡调度性能目标和资源成本目标。调度性能目标为压缩后工件的加权总完工时间,资源成本目标为工件压缩量的线性函数。此问题复杂性已被证明为NP-hard,为弥补较少有研究从Pareto优化角度求解该问题有效前沿的不足,针对经典NSGA-II求解时易早熟收敛的特点,采用算法混合方式进行优化方法研究。融合归档式多目标模拟退火算法跳出局部极值的优势,启用外部存档策略提升种群的多样性,采用主从模式的并行结构提升求解效率。最后为检验优化方法的有效性,一方面通过对Benchmark测试函数ZDT1-6的求解,表明混合算法对不同结构和形状目标函数兼具普适性和有效性;另一方面结合问题特点设计有效编码方式,针对随机生成算例进行求解。通过分析有效前沿收敛性和多样性,验证了所提方法对于优化加工时间可控单机加权总完工时间问题的有效性。     

Single machine stochastic JIT scheduling problem subject to machine breakdowns

In this paper we research the single machine stochastic JIT scheduling problem subject to the machine breakdowns for preemptive-resume and preemptive-repeat.The objective function of the problem is the sum of squared deviations of the job-expected completion times from the due date.For preemptive-resume,we show that the optimal sequence of the SSDE problem is V-shaped with respect to expected processing times.And a dynamic programming algorithm with the pseudopolynomial time complexity is given.We discuss the difference between the SSDE problem and the ESSD problem and show that the optimal solution of the SSDE problem is a good approximate optimal solution of the ESSD problem,and the optimal solution of the SSDE problem is an optimal solution of the ESSD problem under some conditions.For preemptive-repeat,the stochastic JIT scheduling problem has not been solved since the variances of the completion times cannot be computed.We replace the ESSD problem by the SSDE problem.We show that the optimal sequence of the SSDE problem is V-shaped with respect to the expected occupying times.And a dynamic programming algorithm with the pseudopolynomial time complexity is given.A new thought is advanced for the research of the preemptive-repeat stochastic JIT scheduling problem.     

Single machine scheduling with exponential sum-of-logarithm-processing-times based learning effect

In this paper we consider the single machine scheduling problems with exponential sum-of-logarithm-processing-times based learning effect. By the exponential sum-of-logarithm-processing-times based learning effect, we mean that the processing time of a job is defined by an exponent function of the sum of the logarithm of the processing times of the jobs already processed. We consider the following objective functions: the makespan, the total completion time, the sum of the quadratic job completion times, the total weighted completion time and the maximum lateness. We show that the makespan minimization problem, the total completion time minimization problem and the sum of the quadratic job completion times minimization problem can be solved by the smallest (normal) processing time first (SPT) rule, respectively. We also show that the total weighted completion time minimization problem and the maximum lateness minimization problem can be solved in polynomial time under certain conditions.     

Single Machine Group Scheduling with Two Ordered Criteria

The problem of scheduling jobs on a single machine is considered. It is assumed that the jobs are classified into several groups and the jobs of the same group have to be processed contiguously. A sequence independent set-up time is incurred between each two consecutively scheduled groups. A schedule is specified by a sequence for the groups and a sequence for the jobs in each group. The quality of a schedule is measured by two critera ordered by their relative importance. The objective is to minimize the maximum cost, the secondary criterion, subject to the schedule is optimal with respect to total weighted completion time, the primary criterion. A polynomial time algorithm is presented to solve this bicriterion group scheduling problem. It is shown that this algorithm can also be modified to solve the single machine group scheduling problem with several ordered maximum cost criteria and arbitrary precedence constraints.     

加工时间可控和简单线性增长的平行机排序

本文研究加工时间可控并随开工时间简单线性增长的平行机排序问题.证明了该问题为NP-难问题,该问题存在满足以下性质的最优排序:每个工件的加工时间要么完全压缩,要么完全不压缩;每台机器的工件排序由一个工件参数和控制变量的函数的递增序给出.通过将问题等价转换为0-1非线性整数规划问题,给出了平行机排序问题的贪婪算法.     

Single machine scheduling with a general exponential learning effect

In this paper we consider the scheduling problem with a general exponential learning effect and past-sequence-dependent (p-s-d) setup times. By the general exponential learning effect, we mean that the processing time of a job is defined by an exponent function of the total weighted normal processing time of the already processed jobs and its position in a sequence, where the weight is a position-dependent weight. The setup times are proportional to the length of the already processed jobs. We consider the following objective functions: the makespan, the total completion time, the sum of the δ ? 0th power of completion times, the total weighted completion time and the maximum lateness. We show that the makespan minimization problem, the total completion time minimization problem and the sum of the quadratic job completion times minimization problem can be solved by the smallest (normal) processing time first (SPT) rule, respectively. We also show that the total weighted completion time minimization problem and the maximum lateness minimization problem can be solved in polynomial time under certain conditions.     

A note on single-machine scheduling with decreasing time-dependent job processing times

In this note we consider some single-machine scheduling problems with decreasing time-dependent job processing times. Decreasing time-dependent job processing times means that its processing time is a non-increasing function of its execution start time. We present polynomial solutions for the sum of squared completion times minimization problem, and the sum of earliness penalties minimization problem subject to no tardy jobs, respectively. We also study two resource constrained scheduling problems under the same decreasing time-dependent job processing times model and present algorithms to find their optimal solutions.     

Precedence constrained parallel-machine scheduling of position-dependent jobs

We consider parallel-machine job scheduling problems with precedence constraints. Job processing times are variable and depend on positions of jobs in a schedule. The objective is to minimize the maximum completion time or the total weighted completion time. We specify certain conditions under which the problem can be solved by scheduling algorithms applied earlier for fixed job processing times.     

A note on parallel-machine scheduling with deteriorating jobs

We consider a parallel-machine scheduling problem of minimizing the total completion time. The processing time of a job is a linear function of its starting time and deterioration rate. This problem is known to be NP-hard, even for the case with two machines. In this note, we generalize an existing lower bound for the two-machine case to the general case with an arbitrary number of machines. Despite the generalization concerning machine number, our bound has one extra term that makes our bound tighter than the existing one.     

Parallel machine scheduling problems with a single server

In this paper, we consider the problem of scheduling jobs on parallel machines with setup times. The setup has to be performed by a single server. The objective is to minimize the schedule length (makespan), as well as the forced idle time. The makespan problem is known to be NP-hard even for the case of two identical parallel machines. This paper presents a pseudopolynomial algorithm for the case of two machines when all setup times are equal to one. We also show that the more general problem with an arbitrary number of machines is unary NP-hard and analyze some list scheduling heuristics for this problem. The problem of minimizing the forced idle time is known to be unary NP-hard for the case of two machines and arbitrary setup and processing times. We prove unary NP-hardness of this problem even for the case of constant setup times. Moreover, some polynomially solvable cases are given.     

Discrete-continuous project scheduling with discounted cash inflows and various payment models—a review of recent results

In this work discrete-continuous project scheduling problems with discounted cash flows are considered. These problems are characterized by the fact that activities of a project simultaneously require discrete and continuous resources for their execution. A class of these problems is considered, where the number of discrete resources is arbitrary, and there is one continuous, renewable resource, whose total amount available at a time is limited. Activities are non-preemptable, and the processing rate of an activity is a continuous, increasing function of the amount of the continuous resource allotted to the activity at a time. A positive cash flow (cash inflow) is associated with each activity, and the objective is to maximize the net present value (NPV). The discrete-continuous resource-constrained project scheduling problem with discounted cash flows (DCRCPSPDCF) is defined. Four payment models are considered: lump-sum payment at the completion of the project, payments at activity completion times, payments at equal time intervals, and progress payments. Some properties of optimal schedules are proved for two important classes of processing rate functions: all functions not greater than a linear function (including linear and convex functions), and concave processing rate functions.     

A graph coloring approach to scheduling of multiprocessor tasks on dedicated machines with availability constraints

We address a generalization of the classical 1- and 2-processor unit execution time scheduling problem on dedicated machines. In our chromatic model of scheduling machines have non-simultaneous availability times and tasks have arbitrary release times and due dates. Also, the versatility of our approach makes it possible to generalize all known classical criteria of optimality. Under these stipulations we show that the problem of optimal scheduling of sparse tree-like instances can be solved in polynomial time. However, if we admit dense instances then the problem becomes NP-hard, even if there are only two machines.