An improved algorithm for the exchange heuristic for solving multi-project multi-resource constrained scheduling with variable-intensity activities

In this study, a modified algorithm for the exchange heuristic is developed and applied to a resource-constrained scheduling problem. The problem involves multiple projects and multiple resource categories and allows flexible resource allocation to each activity. The objective is to minimize the maximum completion time. The exchange heuristkc is a multiple pass algorithm which makes improvements upon a given initial feasible schedule. Four different modified algorithms are proposed. The original algorithm and the new algorithms were compared through an experimental investigation. All the proposed algorithms reduce the maximum completion time much more effectively than the original algorithm. Especially, one of four proposed algorithms obviously outperforms the other three algorithms. The algorithm of the best performance produces significantly shorter schedules than the original algorithm, though it requires up to three times more computation time. However, in most situations, a reduction in schedule length means a significant reduction in the total cost.