Skip to main content
Log in

A Tabu Search Approach for the Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem

  • Published:
Journal of Heuristics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An appropriate tabu search implementation is designed to solve the resource constrained project scheduling problem. This approach uses well defined move strategies and a structured neighbourhood, defines appropriate tabu status and tenure and takes account of objective function approximation to speed up the search process. A sound understanding of the problem has helped in many ways in designing and enhancing the tabu search methodology. The method uses diversification, intensification and handles infeasibility via strategic oscillation.

The above methodology is tested on existing problems from the literature and also on parametrically generated problems with encouraging results. For comparison of results, optimal solutions are used in the former and lower bounds obtained by Lagrangian heuristics are used in the latter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvarez-Valdes, R. and J.M. Tamarit. (1989). “Heuristic Algorithms for Resource Constrained Project Scheduling: A Review and An Empirical Analysis.” In R. Slowinski and J. Weglarz (eds.), Advances in Project Scheduling, Elsevier, pp. 113-134.

  • Bell, C.E. and J. Han. (1991). “A New Heuristic Solution Method in Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling,” Naval Research Logistics 38, 315-331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christofides, N., R. Alvarez-Valdes, and J.M. Tamarit. (1987). “Project Scheduling with Resource Constraints: A Branch and Bound Approach,” European Journal of Operational Research 29, 262-273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, E.W. and J.H. Patterson. (1975). “A Comparison of Heuristic and Optimum Solutions in Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling,” Management Science 21, 944-955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glover, F., E. Taillard, and D. de Werra. (1993). “A User's Guide to Tabu Search,” Annals of Operations Research 41, 3-28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glover, F. and M. Laguna. (1997). Tabu Search. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

  • Kelley, J.P., B.L. Golden, and A.A. Assad. (1993). “Large-Scale Controlled Rounding Using Tabu Search with Strategic Oscillation,” Annals of Operations Research 41, 69-84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khattab, M.M. and F. Choobineh. (1991). “A New Approach for Project Scheduling with a Limited Resource,” International Journal of Production Research 29, 185-198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J.-K. and Y.-D. Kim. (1996). “Search Heuristics for Resource Constrained Project Scheduling,” Journal of the Operational Research Society. 47(5), 678-689.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, K.Y. and R.J. Willis. (1992). “An Iterative Scheduling Technique for Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling,” European Journal of Operational Research 56, 370-379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osman, I.H. and G. Laporte. (1996). “Metaheuristics: A Bibliography,” Annals of Operations Research 63, 513-623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osman, I.H. and S. Salhi. (1996). “Local Search Strategies for the Vehicle Fle Mix Problem.” In Rayward-Smith, I.H. Osman, C.R. Reeves, and G.D. Smith (eds.), Modern Heuristic Search Methods, Wiley, pp. 131-154.

  • Ozdamar, L. and G. Ulusoy. (1995). “A Survey on the Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem,” IIE Transactions 27, 574-586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, J.H. (1984). “A Comparison of Exact Approaches for Solving the Multiple Constrained Resources, Project Scheduling Problem,” Management Science 30(7), 854-867.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salhi, S. (1994). “A Constructive/Tabu Search Approach for a Class of Location Problems.” Presented at EUROXIII/OR36, Glasgow.

  • Salhi, S. (1998). “Heuristic Search Methods.” In G. Marcoulides (ed.), Modern Methods for Business Research. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Publishers, pp. 147-175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, S.E. and E.N. Weiss. (1993). “Local Search Techniques for the Generalised Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem,” Naval Research Logistics 40, 665-675.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taillard, E. (1993). “Parallel Iterative Search Methods for Vehicle Routing Problems,” Networks 23, 661-676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, P.R. and S. Salhi. (1995). “A Lagrangian Heuristic Approach for the Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem.” Working Paper 33/95, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Birmingham.

  • Thomas, P.R. and S. Salhi. (1997). “An Investigation into the Relationship of Heuristic performance with Network-Resource Characteristics,” Journal of the Operational Research Society 48, 34-43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulusoy, G. and L. Ozdamar. (1989). “Heuristic Performance and Network/Resource Characteristics in Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling,” Journal of the Operational Research Society 40, 1145-1152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulusoy, G. and L. Ozdamar. (1994). “A Constraint-Based Perspective in Resource Constrained Project Scheduling,” International Journal of Production Research 32, 693-705.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thomas, P.R., Salhi, S. A Tabu Search Approach for the Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem. Journal of Heuristics 4, 123–139 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009673512884

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009673512884

Navigation