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Characterization and generation of a general class of resource-constrained project scheduling problems: Easy and hard instances

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  • Kolisch, Rainer
  • Sprecher, Arno
  • Drexl, Andreas

Abstract

The paper describes an algorithm for the generation of a general class of precedence- and resource-constrained scheduling problems. Easy and hard instances for the single- and multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem are benchmarked by using the state of the art (branch-and-bound-) procedures. The strong impact of the chosen parametric characterization of the problems is shown via an in-depth computational study. The results provided, demonstrate that the classical benchmark instances used by several researchers over decades belong to the subset of the very easy ones. In addition it is shown that hard instances, being far more smaller in size than presumed in the literature, may not be solved to optimality even within a huge amount of computational time.

Suggested Citation

  • Kolisch, Rainer & Sprecher, Arno & Drexl, Andreas, 1992. "Characterization and generation of a general class of resource-constrained project scheduling problems: Easy and hard instances," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 301, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cauman:301
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kolisch, R. & Padman, R., 2001. "An integrated survey of deterministic project scheduling," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 249-272, June.
    2. De Reyck, Bert & Herroelen, Willy, 1996. "On the use of the complexity index as a measure of complexity in activity networks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 91(2), pages 347-366, June.
    3. Elmaghraby, Salah E., 1995. "Activity nets: A guided tour through some recent developments," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 82(3), pages 383-408, May.
    4. Vo[ss], Stefan & Witt, Andreas, 2007. "Hybrid flow shop scheduling as a multi-mode multi-project scheduling problem with batching requirements: A real-world application," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(2), pages 445-458, February.
    5. Sprecher, Arno, 2000. "SALBLIB: Challenging instances for assembly line balancing," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 526, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    6. Kolisch, Rainer & Sprecher, Arno, 1997. "PSPLIB - A project scheduling problem library : OR Software - ORSEP Operations Research Software Exchange Program," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 205-216, January.
    7. Šůcha, Přemysl & Agnetis, Alessandro & Šidlovský, Marko & Briand, Cyril, 2021. "Nash equilibrium solutions in multi-agent project scheduling with milestones," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(1), pages 29-41.
    8. Drexl, Andreas & Kolisch, Rainer, 1994. "Model-based assembly management in machine tool manufacturing," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 346, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    9. Alessandro Agnetis & Cyril Briand & Sandra Ulrich Ngueveu & Přemysl Šůcha, 2020. "Price of anarchy and price of stability in multi-agent project scheduling," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 285(1), pages 97-119, February.
    10. Buddhakulsomsiri, Jirachai & Kim, David S., 2006. "Properties of multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problems with resource vacations and activity splitting," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 175(1), pages 279-295, November.
    11. Sprecher, Arno & Drexl, Andreas, 1998. "Multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling by a simple, general and powerful sequencing algorithm," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 107(2), pages 431-450, June.
    12. Agrawal, M. K. & Elmaghraby, S. E. & Herroelen, W. S., 1996. ": A generator of testsets for project activity nets," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(2), pages 376-382, April.
    13. M. Calhoun, Kevin & Deckro, Richard F. & Moore, James T. & Chrissis, James W. & Van Hove, John C., 2002. "Planning and re-planning in project and production scheduling," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 155-170, June.
    14. Ahn, Taeho & Erenguc, S. Selcuk, 1998. "The resource constrained project scheduling problem with multiple crashable modes: A heuristic procedure," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 107(2), pages 250-259, June.
    15. Kolisch, Rainer & Sprecher, Arno, 1996. "PSPLIB - a project scheduling problem library," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 396, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.

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