Minimizing total tardiness in a stochastic single machine scheduling problem using approximate dynamic programming

Author(s)

Ronconi, Debora P. ^[1] ; Powell, Warren B. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Politecn, Dept Prod Engn, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Princeton Univ, Dept Operat Res & Financial Engn, Princeton, NJ 08544 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF SCHEDULING; v. 13, n. 6, p. 597-607, DEC 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

This paper addresses the non-preemptive single machine scheduling problem to minimize total tardiness. We are interested in the online version of this problem, where orders arrive at the system at random times. Jobs have to be scheduled without knowledge of what jobs will come afterwards. The processing times and the due dates become known when the order is placed. The order release date occurs only at the beginning of periodic intervals. A customized approximate dynamic programming method is introduced for this problem. The authors also present numerical experiments that assess the reliability of the new approach and show that it performs better than a myopic policy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/03496-3 - Theory and practice of cutting and packing problems
• Grantee: Marcos Nereu Arenales
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants