Single-machine group scheduling with general deterioration and learning effects

In this paper we consider single-machine group scheduling problems with effects of learning and deterioration at the same time. By effects of learning and deterioration, we mean that the group setup times are general linear functions of their starting times and the jobs in the same group have general position-dependent and time-dependent learning effects. The objective of scheduling problems is to minimize the makespan and the sum of completion times, respectively. We show that the problems remain solvable in polynomial time under the proposed model.     

Single-machine scheduling with deteriorating jobs and learning effects to minimize the makespan

This paper studies the single-machine scheduling problem with deteriorating jobs and learning considerations. The objective is to minimize the makespan. We first show that the schedule produced by the largest growth rate rule is unbounded for our model, although it is an optimal solution for the scheduling problem with deteriorating jobs and no learning. We then consider three special cases of the problem, each corresponding to a specific practical scheduling scenario. Based on the derived optimal properties, we develop an optimal algorithm for each of these cases. Finally, we consider a relaxed model of the second special case, and present a heuristic and analyze its worst-case performance bound.     

Single-machine scheduling with linear decreasing deterioration to minimize earliness penalties

We consider a single-machine scheduling problem with linear decreasing deterioration in which the due dates are determined by the equal slack (SLK) method. By the linear decreasing deterioration, we mean that the job’s processing time is a decreasing function of its starting time. The objective is to minimize the total weighted earliness penalty subject to no tardy jobs. We prove that two special cases of the problem remain polynomially solvable. The first case is the problem with equally weighted monotonous penalty objective function and the other case is the problem with weighted linear penalty objective function.     

Single-machine scheduling with a general sum-of-actual-processing-times-based and job-position-based learning effect

In this paper, we bring into the scheduling field a general learning effect model where the actual processing time of a job is not only a general function of the total actual processing times of the jobs already processed, but also a general function of the job’s scheduled position. We show that the makespan minimization problem and the sum of the kth power of completion times minimization problem can be solved in polynomial time, 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 scheduling with learning and forgetting effects

Scheduling with learning effects has been widely studied in the past decade. With the increasingly moving toward shorter product cycle times in many production lines, workers in this changeable environment must constantly learn new skill and technology. As a result, the forgetting effect might occur in these situations. In this paper, we propose a model with the consideration of both the learning and forgetting effects. We show some single-machine problems remain polynomially solvable under the proposed model.     

Single-machine scheduling with time-and-resource-dependent processing times

We consider single-machine scheduling problems in which the processing time of a job is a function of its starting time and its resource allocation. The objective is to find the optimal sequence of jobs and the optimal resource allocation separately. We concentrate on two goals separately, namely, minimizing a cost function containing makespan, total completion time, total absolute differences in completion times and total resource cost; minimizing a cost function containing makespan, total waiting time, total absolute differences in waiting times and total resource cost. We show that the problems remain polynomially solvable under the proposed model.     

Single-machine group scheduling with processing times dependent on position,starting time and allotted resource

This article considers scheduling problems on a single machine with learning effect, deteriorating jobs and resource allocation under group technology (GT) assumption. We assume that the actual processing time of a job depends on the job position, the group position, the starting time and the amount of resource allocated to them concurrently, and the actual setup times of groups depend on the group position and the amount of resource allocated to them concurrently. Two resource allocation functions are examined for minimizing the weighted sum of makespan and total resource cost. We prove that the problems have polynomial solutions under the condition that the number of jobs in each group are the same.     

Single-machine scheduling with convex resource dependent processing times and deteriorating jobs

In this study, we consider scheduling problems with convex resource dependent processing times and deteriorating jobs, in which the processing time of a job is a function of its starting time and its convex resource allocation. The objective is to find the optimal sequence of jobs and the optimal convex resource allocation separately. This paper focus on the single-machine problems with objectives of minimizing a cost function containing makespan, total completion time, total absolute differences in completion times and total resource cost, and a cost function containing makespan, total waiting time, total absolute differences in waiting times and total resource cost. It shows that the problems remain polynomially solvable under the proposed model.     

Scheduling problems with past-sequence-dependent setup times and general effects of deterioration and learning

In this paper we consider the single-machine setup times scheduling with general effects of deterioration and learning. By the general effects of deterioration and learning, we mean that the actual job processing time is a general function of the processing times of the jobs already processed and its scheduled position. The setup times are proportional to the length of the already processed jobs, i.e., the setup times are past-sequence-dependent (p-s-d). We show that the problems to minimize the makespan, the sum of the δ$\delta$th (δ>0$\delta >0$) power of job completion times, the total lateness are polynomially solvable. We also show that the total weighted completion time minimization problem, the discounted total weighted completion time minimization problem, the maximum lateness (tardiness) minimization problem, the total tardiness minimization problem can be solved in polynomial time under certain conditions.     

Single-machine scheduling problems with an actual time-dependent deterioration

In this paper, we consider the single machine scheduling problems with an actual time-dependent deterioration effect. By the actual time-dependent deterioration effect, we mean that the processing time of a job is defined by increasing function of total actual processing time of jobs in front of it in the sequence. We show that even with the introduction of an actual time-dependent deterioration to job processing times, makespan minimization problem, total completion time minimization problem, the total lateness, and the sum of the quadratic job completion times minimization problem remain polynomially solvable, respectively. We also show that the total weighted completion time minimization problem, the discounted total weighted completion time minimization problem, the maximum lateness minimization problem, and the total tardiness minimization problem can be solved in polynomial time under certain conditions.     

Single-machine scheduling problems with a learning effect

In many situations, the skills of workers continuously improve when repeating the same or similar tasks. This phenomenon is known as the “learning effect” in the literature. In most studies, the learning phenomenon is implemented by assuming the actual job processing time is a function of its scheduled position [D. Biskup, Single-machine scheduling with learning considerations, Eur. J. Oper. Res. 115 (1999) 173–178]. Recently, a new model is proposed where the actual job processing time depends on the sum of the processing times of jobs already processed [C. Koulamas, G.J. Kyparisis, Single-machine and two-machine flowshop scheduling with general learning functions, Eur. J. Oper. Res. 178 (2007) 402–407]. In this paper, we extend their models in which the actual job processing time not only depends on its scheduled position, but also depends on the sum of the processing times of jobs already processed. We then show that the single-machine makespan and the total completion time problems remain polynomially solvable under the proposed model. In addition, we show that the total weighted completion time has a polynomial optimal solution under certain agreeable solutions.     

Several single-machine scheduling problems with general learning effects

In this paper we consider several single-machine scheduling problems with general learning effects. By general learning effects, we mean that the processing time of a job depends not only on its scheduled position, but also on the total normal processing time of the jobs already processed. We show that the scheduling problems of minimization of the makespan, the total completion time and the sum of the θ  th (θ?0$\theta ?0$) power of job completion times can be solved in polynomial time under the proposed models. We also prove that some special cases of the total weighted completion time minimization problem and the maximum lateness minimization problem can be solved in polynomial time.     

Single-machine scheduling with deteriorating jobs and past-sequence-dependent setup times

In many realistic scheduling settings a job processed later consumes more time than the same job processed earlier – this is known as scheduling with deteriorating jobs. Most research on scheduling with deteriorating jobs assumes that the actual processing time of a job is an increasing function of its starting time. Thus a job processed late may incur an excessively long processing time. On the other hand, setup times occur in manufacturing situations where jobs are processed in batches whereby each batch incurs a setup time. This paper considers scheduling with deteriorating jobs in which the actual processing time of a job is a function of the logarithm of the total processing time of the jobs processed before it (to avoid the unrealistic situation where the jobs scheduled late will incur excessively long processing times) and the setup times are proportional to the actual processing times of the already scheduled jobs. Under the proposed model, we provide optimal solutions for some single-machine problems.     

Single-machine scheduling problems with both start-time dependent learning and position dependent aging effects under deteriorating maintenance consideration

In this paper we introduce a new model of joint start-time dependent learning and position dependent aging effects into single-machine scheduling problems. The machine may need maintenance to improve its production efficiency. The objectives are to find jointly the optimal maintenance position and the optimal sequence such that the makespan, the total completion time, and the total absolute deviation of completion times (TADC) are minimized. We also aim to determine jointly the optimal maintenance position, the optimal due-window size and location, and the optimal sequence to minimize the sum of earliness, tardiness and due-window related costs function. We show that all the studied problems can be optimally solved by polynomial time algorithms.     

A single-machine scheduling problem with two-agent and deteriorating jobs

Deteriorating jobs scheduling problems have been extensively studied in recent years. However, it is assumed that there is a common goal to minimize for all jobs in most of the research. In many management situations, multiple agents compete on the usage of a common processing resource. In this paper, we considered a single-machine scheduling problem with a linear deterioration assumption where the objective is to minimize the total weighted completion time of jobs from the first agent with the restriction that no tardy job is allowed for the second agent. We proposed a branch-and-bound algorithm and three heuristic algorithms to search for the optimal solution and near-optimal solutions, respectively. A computational experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms.     

Single-machine ready times scheduling with group technology and proportional linear deterioration

Scheduling research has increasingly taken the concept of deterioration into consideration. In this paper, we study a single machine group scheduling problem with deterioration effect, where the jobs are already put into groups, before any optimization. We assume that the actual processing times of jobs are increasing functions of their starting times, i.e., the job processing times are described by a function which is proportional to a linear function of time. The setup times of groups are assumed to be fixed and known. For some special cases of minimizing the makespan with ready times of the jobs, we show that the problem can be solved in polynomial time for the proposed model. For the general case, a heuristic algorithm is proposed, and the computational experiments show that the performance of the heuristic is fairly accurately in obtaining near-optimal solutions. The results imply that the average percentage error of the proposed heuristic algorithm from optimal solutions is less than 3%.     

Single-machine scheduling with deteriorating functions for job processing times

In many realistic scheduling settings a job processed later consumes more time than when it is processed earlier – this phenomenon is known as scheduling with deteriorating jobs. In the literature on deteriorating job scheduling problems, majority of the research assumed that the actual job processing time of a job is a function of its starting time. In this paper we consider a new deterioration model where the actual job processing time of a job is a function of the processing times of the jobs already processed. We show that the single-machine scheduling problems to minimize the makespan and total completion time remain polynomially solvable under the proposed model. In addition, we prove that the problems to minimize the total weighted completion time, maximum lateness, and maximum tardiness are polynomially solvable under certain agreeable conditions.     

Considerations of single-machine scheduling with deteriorating jobs

This paper considers some scheduling problems with deteriorating jobs. The objectives are to minimize the makespan, the total completion time, the total absolute deviation of completion time, the earliness, tardiness, and due date penalty, the sum of earliness penalties subject to no tardy jobs, respectively. We also explore two resource constrained scheduling problems: how to minimize the resource consumption with makespan constraints and how to minimize the makespan with the total resource consumption constraints. Several polynomial time algorithms are proposed to optimally solve the problems with the above objective functions.     

Scheduling with deteriorating jobs and learning effects

This paper studies a single machine scheduling problem simultaneously with deteriorating jobs and learning effects. The objectives are to minimize the makespan and the number of tardy jobs, respectively. Two polynomial time algorithms are proposed to solve these problems optimally.     

A note on single-machine scheduling with job-dependent learning effects

Mosheiov and Sidney (2003) showed that the makespan minimization problem with job-dependent learning effects can be formulated as an assignment problem and solved in O(n³) time. We show that this problem can be solved in O(nlog n) time by sequencing the jobs according to the shortest processing time (SPT) order if we utilize the observation that the job-dependent learning rates are correlated with the level of sophistication of the jobs and assume that these rates are bounded from below. The optimality of the SPT sequence is also preserved when the job-dependent learning rates are inversely correlated with the level of sophistication of the jobs and bounded from above.