32,290 research outputs found
Stronger Lagrangian bounds by use of slack variables: applications to machine scheduling problems
Lagrangian relaxation is a powerful bounding technique that has been applied successfully to manyNP-hard combinatorial optimization problems. The basic idea is to see anNP-hard problem as an easy-to-solve problem complicated by a number of nasty side constraints. We show that reformulating nasty inequality constraints as equalities by using slack variables leads to stronger lower bounds. The trick is widely applicable, but we focus on a broad class of machine scheduling problems for which it is particularly useful. We provide promising computational results for three problems belonging to this class for which Lagrangian bounds have appeared in the literature: the single-machine problem of minimizing total weighted completion time subject to precedence constraints, the two-machine flow-shop problem of minimizing total completion time, and the single-machine problem of minimizing total weighted tardiness
Approximation Algorithms for Scheduling with Resource and Precedence Constraints
We study non-preemptive scheduling problems on identical parallel machines and uniformly related machines under both resource constraints and general precedence constraints between jobs. Our first result is an O(logn)-approximation algorithm for the objective of minimizing the makespan on parallel identical machines under resource and general precedence constraints. We then use this result as a subroutine to obtain an O(logn)-approximation algorithm for the
more general objective of minimizing the total weighted completion time on parallel identical machines under both constraints. Finally, we present an O(logm logn)-approximation algorithm for scheduling under these constraints on uniformly related machines. We show that these results can all be generalized to include the case where each job has a release time. This is the first upper bound on the approximability of this class of scheduling problems where both resource and general precedence constraints must be satisfied simultaneously
Existence Theorems for Scheduling to Meet Two Objectives
We will look at the existence of schedules which are simultaneously near-optimal for two criteria. First,we will present some techniques for proving existence theorems,in a very general setting,for bicriterion scheduling problems. We will then use these techniques to prove existence theorems for a large class of problems. We will consider the relationship between objective functions based on completion time,flow time,lateness and the number of on-time jobs. We will also present negative results first for the problem of simultaneously minimizing the maximum flow time and average weighted flow time and second for minimizing the maximum flow time and simultaneously maximizing the number of on-time jobs. In some cases we will also present lower bounds and algorithms that approach our bicriterion existence theorems. Finally we will improve upon our general existence results in one more specific environment
Scheduling with Outliers
In classical scheduling problems, we are given jobs and machines, and have to
schedule all the jobs to minimize some objective function. What if each job has
a specified profit, and we are no longer required to process all jobs -- we can
schedule any subset of jobs whose total profit is at least a (hard) target
profit requirement, while still approximately minimizing the objective
function?
We refer to this class of problems as scheduling with outliers. This model
was initiated by Charikar and Khuller (SODA'06) on the minimum max-response
time in broadcast scheduling. We consider three other well-studied scheduling
objectives: the generalized assignment problem, average weighted completion
time, and average flow time, and provide LP-based approximation algorithms for
them. For the minimum average flow time problem on identical machines, we give
a logarithmic approximation algorithm for the case of unit profits based on
rounding an LP relaxation; we also show a matching integrality gap. For the
average weighted completion time problem on unrelated machines, we give a
constant factor approximation. The algorithm is based on randomized rounding of
the time-indexed LP relaxation strengthened by the knapsack-cover inequalities.
For the generalized assignment problem with outliers, we give a simple
reduction to GAP without outliers to obtain an algorithm whose makespan is
within 3 times the optimum makespan, and whose cost is at most (1 + \epsilon)
times the optimal cost.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figure
Improved algorithms for two single machine scheduling problems
AbstractIn this paper, we investigate two single machine scheduling problems. The first problem addresses a class of the two-stage scheduling problems in which the first stage is job production and the second stage is job delivery. For the case that jobs are processed on a single machine and delivered by a single vehicle to one customer area, with the objective of minimizing the time when all jobs are completed and delivered to the customer area and the vehicle returns to the machine, an approximation algorithm with a worst-case ratio of 53 is known and no approximation can have a worst-case of 32 unless P=NP. We present an improved approximation algorithm with a worst-case ratio of 5335, which only leaves a gap of 170. The second problem is a single machine scheduling problem subject to a period of maintenance. The objective is to minimize the total completion time. The best known approximation algorithm has a worst-case ratio of 2017. We present a polynomial time approximation scheme
Tabu Search For A Class Of Single-Machine Scheduling Problems
In this paper we develop a tabu search-based solution procedure designed specifically for a certain class of single-machine scheduling problems with a non-regular performance measure. The performance of the developed algorithm is tested for solving the variance minimization problem. Problems from the literature are used to test the performance of the algorithm. This algorithm can be used for solving other problems such as minimizing completion time deviation from a common due date
Tabu Search For A Class Of Single-Machine Scheduling Problems
In this paper we develop a tabu search-based solution procedure designed specifically for a certain class of single-machine scheduling problems with a non-regular performance measure. The performance of the developed algorithm is tested for solving the variance minimization problem. Problems from the literature are used to test the performance of the algorithm. This algorithm can be used for solving other problems such as minimizing completion time deviation from a common due date
- …