Time and work generalised precedence relationships in project scheduling with pre-emption: An application to the management of Service Centres

In this paper we present an application of project scheduling concepts and solution procedures for the solution of a complex problem that comes up in the daily management of many company Service Centres. The real problem has been modelled as a multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem with pre-emption, time and work generalised precedence relationships with minimal and maximal time lags between the tasks and due dates. We present a complete study of work GPRs which includes proper definitions, a new notation and all possible conversions amongst them. Computational results that show the efficiency of the proposed hybrid genetic algorithm and the advantages of allowing pre-emption are also presented.

► We model a task scheduling and human resource management problem in Service Centres. ► The model is a pre-emptive multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem with GPRs and due dates. ► A study of the different types of work GPRs with minimal and maximal work lags is presented. ► The efficiency of the proposed GA and the advantages of pre-emption are shown.