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Project schedule planning and networks
Published in John M. Nicholas, Herman Steyn, Project Management for Engineering, Business and Technology, 2020
John M. Nicholas, Herman Steyn
The terms resource allocation, workload, and resource loading convey related but different concepts. Resource allocation refers to assigning one or more resources to an activity or project. Workload refers to the amount of work imposed on a resource. Resource loading refers to the amount of a particular resource needed to conduct all the activities in a project to which the resource is allocated. For an individual resource (such as a person), the workload can be specified either as a percentage of the resource’s full workload potential or, more commonly, in units such as labor hours. For a facility or labor category (such as a department of workers with specific skills), the workload is specified in terms of number of workers. Since all the people in a labor category (such as “computer programmer”) seldom have exactly the same skills, ordinarily it is better to allocate a specific person (a specific programmer) rather than a labor category to an activity. The usual assumption when allocating people from a labor category is that everyone in the category is equally capable; often, though, after the work begins, it becomes evident that not everyone is.
Modeling for Project Optimization
Published in Adedeji B. Badiru, Project Management, 2019
For j = 1, …, N activities, let pj > 0 be the priority value for activity j. The priority value is used to prioritize activities for resource allocation when activities compete for limited resources. It is assumed that the priority values for the activities do not change during the scheduling process. This is referred to as a fixed prioritization of activities. If the activity priority values can change depending on the state and time of the scheduling problem, then the activity prioritization is referred to as a variable prioritization of activities. Let rij > 0 be the number of units of resource type i (weight) required by activity j. It is also assumed that the resource requirements do not change during the scheduling process. Let Rit be the limit on the units of resource type i available at time t. The formulation of the scheduling problem for time t is as follows: Maximize:zt=∑j∈Stpjxjt
Maintenance Costs Across Sectors
Published in Diego Galar, Peter Sandborn, Uday Kumar, Maintenance Costs and Life Cycle Cost Analysis, 2017
Diego Galar, Peter Sandborn, Uday Kumar
Cost analysis has its limitations. Analysts develop cost-estimating methodologies with an imperfect understanding of the technical merits and limitations of the item. The applicability of historic data is always subject to interpretation. Because of future uncertainties, there are limitations in determining the degree to which reality varies from the plan. Realistically, the cost analysis process cannot do the following:Be applied with absolute precision, but must be tailored to the problemProduce results that are better than input dataPredict political impactsSubstitute for sound judgment, management, or controlMake the final decisionsDespite these limitations, cost analysis is a powerful tool. Rigorous and systematic analysis leads to a better understanding of the problem. It improves management insight into resource allocation problems. Because the future is uncertain, our best estimate will differ from reality (U.S. Army Cost and Economic Analysis Center, 2002).
Three-player game-theoretic allocation of indivisible resources during natural disasters
Published in Engineering Optimization, 2023
Rudrashis Majumder, Debasish Ghose
Human casualties and damage to property and infrastructure caused by natural disasters necessitate immediate action from the disaster management authority. Many researchers have focused on problems in disaster management in recent decades to identify technological solutions so that disaster resilience can be improved (Altay and Green III 2006; Galindo and Batta 2013). Quick and efficacious disaster response is essential to mitigate the impact of a disaster (Kim et al.2018). Disaster management broadly consists of various measures such as warning (Zschau and Küppers 2013), evacuation (Thompson, Garfin, and Silver 2017), search and rescue operations (Statheropoulos et al.2015), resource allocation and relief logistics (Kovács and Spens 2007; Luis, Dolinskaya, and Smilowitz 2012), etc. In general, resource allocation is concerned with the distribution of necessary resources based on demand and resource availability. The localities affected in the aftermath of a natural disaster need various resources and emergency services for the survival of the inhabitants. The goal of resource allocation is to assign limited resources efficiently and equitably.
Can wind power policies effectively improve the productive efficiency of Chinese wind power industry?
Published in International Journal of Green Energy, 2021
This paper proposes the following suggestions. (i) The government should formulate and adjust the wind power policy in due course, according to the productive characteristics and actual needs of WPI. Improving the hit rate and targeting accuracy of policy is a critical prerequisite of accelerating the development of WPI. (ii) The development of Chinese WPI was mainly driven by investment in the past. We should replace the traditional growth mode with a new way which relies on technological innovation and improving the quality of employees. This sustainable development mode will help the Chinese WPI to maintain international competitiveness. (iii) The local authorities should release relevant information in time to reduce information asymmetry and promote the rational flow of resources in the market. Improving the structure of resource allocation is conducive to improving productive efficiency.
Inventory strategies for perishable products with two-period shelf-life and lost sales
Published in International Journal of Production Research, 2021
Kebing Chen, Tiaojun Xiao, Shengbin Wang, Dong Lei
To be specific, this study investigates the inventory management of perishable products, in which a dynamically updated inventory strategy for perishable products is proposed and discussed in detail. According to the remaining shelf-life, we divide the products into two age groups: one consisting of old units (units with one-period shelf-life remaining), and the other consisting of young units (units with two-period shelf-life remaining). For the two common inventory adjustment plans, intuitively, RP would be a better method to be used to control the expiration rate, since some aged units that drive the wastage risk higher are returned before they expire, while EP would be a better method to be used to control the supply shortage risk by an emergency reorder quantity at the mid-cycle. However, considering dynamic relationship between the regular order and the adjustment plan, we find that EP has a better performance in controlling the product wastage risk, and it results in a higher shortage risk than RP. It can be shown that each plan is characterised by a threshold. Depending on the relationship between the mid-cycle leftover units and the inventory thresholds, the manager decides whether to adopt an inventory adjustment plan. Furthermore, we study the inventory strategy with the combination of expedited order and returns plans (E&RPs), which can effectively control the risks of wastage and shortage in the inventory management of processed dairy products and blood platelets. It can also lower the total cost and optimise resource allocation.