A Variational Study of Optimal Resource Profiles

The paper describes a method of supplementing network analysis by taking a global view of project planning. The sequencing constraints normally found in a project are condensed into restrictions on the quantity of work performed by any stage in its duration. The objective is to minimise cost, where...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inManagement science Vol. 19; no. 9; pp. 1067 - 1081
Main Authors Cullingford, G, Prideaux, J. D. C. A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hanover, MD., etc INFORMS 01.05.1973
Institute of Management Sciences
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
SeriesManagement Science
Subjects
Cost efficiency
Costs
Decision making
Efficiency
Locomotives
Mathematical constants
Minimization of cost
Network analysis
Operations research
Optimal solutions
Railway systems
Resource costs
Sequencing
Trajectories
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ISSN0025-1909
1526-5501
DOI10.1287/mnsc.19.9.1067

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Summary:The paper describes a method of supplementing network analysis by taking a global view of project planning. The sequencing constraints normally found in a project are condensed into restrictions on the quantity of work performed by any stage in its duration. The objective is to minimise cost, where cost is considered to vary both with project duration and with the instantaneous rate of change of resource. Variational methods are used to produce optimal work-time and resource-time project profiles. The form of some constraints likely to arise in a project is considered, and the best profiles subject to certain constraints are derived and discussed. The techniques have been used to obtain a lower bound to project cost and to estimate ideal project duration.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
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ObjectType-Statistics/Data Report-1
ISSN:0025-1909
1526-5501
DOI:10.1287/mnsc.19.9.1067