Time-cost trade-offs in resource-constraint project scheduling problems with overlapping modes

François Berthaut, Robert Pellerin, Nathalie Perrier and Adnène Hajji

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2014, vol. 6, issue 3, 215-236

Abstract: In companies, overlapping is commonly regarded as a promising strategy to accelerate project execution. Overlapping consists in executing in parallel two sequential activities by allowing a downstream activity to start before the end of an upstream activity based on preliminary information. However, overlapping can entail reworks in downstream activity, caused by information updates until finalised information is available, and additional coordination and communication, which both require additional time and costs. In this paper, we present a model for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem with feasible overlapping modes. The makespan minimisation and the gain maximisation problems are formulated as linear integer programmes. Time-cost tradeoffs between project duration and overlapping costs are also discussed. An example of a 30-activity project is provided to illustrate the utility and efficiency of the model. Our results highlight the closed interaction between resource constraints and overlapping modes and suggest the relevance of jointly considering them.

Keywords: activity overlapping; concurrent engineering; project management; project scheduling; resource constraints; time cost trade-offs; project execution; downstream activities; upstream activities; preliminary information; finalised information; information updating; coordination; communication; RCPS problem; resource constrained project scheduling; feasible overlapping; makespan minimisation; gain maximisation; ILP; integer linear programming; project duration; overlapping costs; overlapping modes; simultaneous engineering. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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