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

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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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    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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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