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New computational results for the nurse scheduling problem: A scatter search algorithm

Author

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  • Maenhout, B.
  • Vanhoucke, M.

    (Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School)

Abstract

In this paper, we present a scatter search algorithm for the well-known nurse scheduling problem (NSP). This problem aims at the construction of roster schedules for nurses taking both hard and soft constraints into account. The objective is to minimize the total preference cost of the nurses and the total penalty cost from violations of the soft constraints. The problem is known to be NP-hard. The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, we are, to the best of our knowledge, the first to present a scatter search algorithm for the NSP. Second, we investigate two different types of solution combination methods in the scatter search framework, based on four different cost elements. Last, we present detailed computational experiments on a benchmark dataset presented recently, and solve these problem instances under different assumptions. We show that our procedure performs consistently well under many different circumstances, and hence, can be considered as robust against case-specific constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Maenhout, B. & Vanhoucke, M., 2006. "New computational results for the nurse scheduling problem: A scatter search algorithm," Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School Working Paper Series 2006-06, Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School.
    • Handle: RePEc:vlg:vlgwps:2006-06
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    19. N. Geeroms & P. Van Kenhove & W. Verbeke, 2005. "Health Advertising to promote Fruit and Vegetable Intake: Application of need-related Health Audience Segmentation," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 05/336, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    20. V. Vansteeger, 2005. "The current state of accounting harmonization: impediments to and benefits from harmonization," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 05/322, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
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    24. J. Albrecht & M. Neyt & T. Verbeke, 2005. "Bureaucratisation and the growth of health care expenditures in Europe," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 05/335, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    25. L. Pozzi, 2005. "Income Uncertainty and Aggregate Consumption," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 05/334, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
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    28. repec:zbw:bofitp:2005_010 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sanja Petrovic & Greet Berghe, 2012. "A comparison of two approaches to nurse rostering problems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 194(1), pages 365-384, April.
    2. Broos Maenhout & Mario Vanhoucke, 2008. "Comparison and hybridization of crossover operators for the nurse scheduling problem," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 333-353, March.
    3. Ademir Constantino & Dario Landa-Silva & Everton Melo & Candido Mendonça & Douglas Rizzato & Wesley Romão, 2014. "A heuristic algorithm based on multi-assignment procedures for nurse scheduling," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 218(1), pages 165-183, July.
    4. Vanhoucke, Mario & Maenhout, Broos, 2009. "On the characterization and generation of nurse scheduling problem instances," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 196(2), pages 457-467, July.
    5. B Maenhout & M Vanhoucke, 2009. "The impact of incorporating nurse-specific characteristics in a cyclical scheduling approach," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(12), pages 1683-1698, December.

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    Keywords

    meta-heuristics; scatter search; nurse scheduling;
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