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Application of Scheduling and Capacity Management Tools in a Multi-project Environment

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Information Systems and Technologies (WorldCIST 2022)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 470))

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Abstract

This paper addresses the application of different tools, in a multi-project environment, with focus on schedule and capacity management. The action-research methodology was applied to a production machines manufacturer from the metalworking industry. After data collection, a schedule was developed using the Precedence Diagram Method and Critical Path Method. Afterwards, a resource pool was created. Finally, a what-if analysis was conducted to evaluate five scenarios with different outcomes. Microsoft Project was used as support software. The methodology allowed for the continuous improvement of the solution with constant evaluation from the company’s side in an iterative application process. The results highlight the importance of using these tools and technique to support the company in the decision-making process for the most valuable scenario of resource allocation, taking their impacts in consideration. This information is crucial in the initial planning but also in replanning. This application also reinforces MS Project as a very complete and flexible tool which is nonetheless lacking a few features specific to these operations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal

    Leandro Pinto

  2. Management Department, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Anabela Tereso

  3. Production and Systems Department/Centre ALGORITMI, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Alberto Pereira

  4. Mechanical Department, ISEP/Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering, Porto, Portugal

    Marlene Brito

Authors
  1. Leandro Pinto
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  2. Alberto Pereira
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  3. Anabela Tereso
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  4. Marlene Brito
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marlene Brito .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Alvaro Rocha

  2. College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Hojjat Adeli

  3. Institute of Data Science and Digital Technologies, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Gintautas Dzemyda

  4. DCT, Universidade Portucalense, Porto, Portugal

    Fernando Moreira

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Pinto, L., Pereira, A., Tereso, A., Brito, M. (2022). Application of Scheduling and Capacity Management Tools in a Multi-project Environment. In: Rocha, A., Adeli, H., Dzemyda, G., Moreira, F. (eds) Information Systems and Technologies. WorldCIST 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 470. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04829-6_14

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