Genetic Algorithm for the Jump Number Scheduling Problem

This paper introduces genetic algorithms for the jump number scheduling problem. Given a set of tasks subject to precedence constraints, the problem is to construct a schedule to minimize the number of jumps. We show that genetic algorithms outperform the previously known Knuth and Szwarcfiter's exhaustive search algorithm when applied to some classes of orders in which no polynomial time algorithms exist in solving the jump number problem. Values for various parameters of genetic jump number algorithms are tested and results are discussed.