Decomposition and hybrid simulated annealing heuristics for the parallel-machine total tardiness problem

A polynomial decomposition heuristic is developed for the parallel-machine tardiness problem (P&sol& sol;T) by extending the decomposition principle embedded in the single-machine tardiness problem (1&sol/T) to a parallel-machine setting. The subproblems generated by the decomposition are solved by an effective heuristic that yields solutions such that the schedule on any individual machine satisfies the single-machine decomposition principle. A hybrid simulated annealing heuristic tailored to the P&sol/T problem is also presented. Computational results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the decomposition heuristic. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A note on combined job selection and sequencing problems

We investigate the solvability of two single‐machine scheduling problems when the objective is to identify among all job subsets with cardinality k,1≤k≤n, the one that has the minimum objective function value. For the single‐machine minimum maximum lateness problem, we conclude that the problem is solvable in O(n²) time using the proposed REMOVE algorithm. This algorithm can also be used as an alternative to Moore's algorithm to solve the minimum number of tardy jobs problem by actually solving the hierarchical problem in which the objective is to minimize the maximum lateness subject to the minimum number of tardy jobs. We then show that the REMOVE algorithm cannot be used to solve the general case of the single‐machine total‐weighted completion time problem; we derive sufficient conditions among the job parameters so that the total weighted completion time problem becomes solvable in O(n²) time. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 60: 449–453, 2013     

A Note on the Effect of Terrorism on Economic Sentiment

This study documents that unforeseen events like terrorist attacks can be linked to the formation of Economic Sentiment after controlling for sentiment’s economic drivers. By utilizing dynamic panel techniques, the Economic Sentiment Indicator, as well as one of its constituents Consumer Sentiment, for a pan-European panel of 27 countries appear to be negatively influenced by terrorism activity. Moreover, these negative effects are significant only in the post-9/11 era.     

Interval scheduling: A survey

In interval scheduling, not only the processing times of the jobs but also their starting times are given. This article surveys the area of interval scheduling and presents proofs of results that have been known within the community for some time. We first review the complexity and approximability of different variants of interval scheduling problems. Next, we motivate the relevance of interval scheduling problems by providing an overview of applications that have appeared in literature. Finally, we focus on algorithmic results for two important variants of interval scheduling problems. In one variant we deal with nonidentical machines: instead of each machine being continuously available, there is a given interval for each machine in which it is available. In another variant, the machines are continuously available but they are ordered, and each job has a given “maximal” machine on which it can be processed. We investigate the complexity of these problems and describe algorithms for their solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

On equivalence between the proportionate flow shop and single‐machine scheduling problems

We derive sufficient conditions which, when satisfied, guarantee that an optimal solution for a single‐machine scheduling problem is also optimal for the corresponding proportionate flow shop scheduling problem. We then utilize these sufficient conditions to show the solvability in polynomial time of numerous proportionate flow shop scheduling problems with fixed job processing times, position‐dependent job processing times, controllable job processing times, and also problems with job rejection. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 62: 595–603, 2015     

Scheduling research and the first decade of NRLQ: A historical perspective

It is generally recognized that the first model involving job scheduling was presented by Selmer Johnson and published in the inaugural issue of Naval Research Logistics Quarterly (NRLQ) in 1954. NRLQ also published another seminal scheduling paper by Wayne E. Smith a short time later. In the present paper, we discuss the contribution of NRLQ and the role of the Office of Naval Research in the development of the scheduling literature during the first decade (1954–1963). We also provide a critical analysis of the papers by Johnson and Smith. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 62: 335–344, 2015     

A note on the optimality of index priority rules for search and sequencing problems

We show that the linear objective function of a search problem can be generalized to a power function and/or a logarithmic function and still be minimized by an index priority rule. We prove our result by solving the differential equation resulting from the required invariance condition, therefore, we also prove that any other generalization of this linear objective function will not lead to an index priority rule. We also demonstrate the full equivalence between two related search problems in the sense that a solution to either one can be used to solve the other one and vice versa. Finally, we show that the linear function is the only function leading to an index priority rule for the single‐machine makespan minimization problem with deteriorating jobs and an additive job deterioration function. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2011     

A heuristic for maximizing the number of on‐time jobs on two uniform parallel machines

We consider the problem of maximizing the number of on‐time jobs on two uniform parallel machines. We show that a straightforward extension of an algorithm developed for the simpler two identical parallel machines problem yields a heuristic with a worst‐case ratio bound of at least . We then show that the infusion of a “look ahead” feature into the aforementioned algorithm results in a heuristic with the tight worst‐case ratio bound of , which, to our knowledge, is the tightest worst‐case ratio bound available for the problem. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006