4 Presentations

• 
  10:30 AM - 10:52 AM

  A Comparison of Mixed-Integer Programming and Constraint Programming and Constraint Programming Models for Scheduling Problem in Operating Theatres

  • Wang Tao, presenter, University of St-Etienne, LASPI
  • Nadine Meskens, UCL MONS
  • David Duvivier, Université du Littoral

  The daily scheduling of an operating theatre is a highly constrained problem. Consequently, it is difficult to find the best solution, or even high quality solutions, in a reasonable time. We have compared two models that take into account many of the constraints on human and material resources encountered in real life. The performance of these two models, using mixed-integer and constraint programming respectively, were compared on a real-life case to determine which coped better with these constraints.

• 
  10:52 AM - 11:14 AM

  Framework for E-Appointment Systems Design

  • Riadh Azouzi, Université Laval
  • Pascal Forget, presenter, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
  • Sophie D'Amours, Université Laval

  The current situation in the service industries, public or private, demands efficiency and customer satisfaction in service delivery. These two demands intersect in scheduling of appointments. Despite the availability of computers and Internet access, wired or wireless, deployment of online services for scheduling appointments is found to be rare in the province of Quebec. Consumers and service organizations face many challenges in using Internet for scheduling appointments. These challenges are partially dealt with by software providers who offer commercial e-appointment solutions. This paper aims to investigate the design requirements of such solutions, based on a literature review. We present a review of the main characteristics of available commercial e-appointment solutions and propose a framework of the factors affecting the adoption of these systems in the service industry.

• 
  11:14 AM - 11:36 AM

  Sequencing Activities in a Project Network using Resource Complementarity Model

  • Helder Silva, presenter, University of Minho - DPS - PhD Student
  • Anabela Tereso, Univeristy of Minho
  • José Oliveira, University of Minho

  The methodology of project management has been widespread in organizations of different functions and sizes. In this context, we address the issue of optimal resource allocation, and more specifically, the analysis of com-plementarity of resources (primary resource and supportive resource) in a project. We develop a conceptual system capable of determining the ideal timing, and the ideal mixture of resources allocated to the activities of a project, such that the project is completed on time, if not earlier, with minimal cost. In this paper we present new computational re-sults of a Genetic Algorithm, based in a random keys alphabet to optimize the process to reach better results.

• 
  11:36 AM - 11:58 AM

  The Relevance of the "Alphorn of Uncertainty" to the Financial Management of Projects under Uncertainty

  • Salah Eldin Elmaghraby, presenter, North Carolina State University
  • Jingwen Zhang, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China

  We introduce the concept of the “alphorn of uncertainty” as a tool for project management when the durations and costs of the activities are random variables. We illustrate its applicability by two simple examples using mainly the Monte Carlo sampling approach. The examples demonstrate that the contractual agreement on payments to the project can seriously impact the profitability, or otherwise, of the project, which emphasizes the need for careful study of the bidding process on the project.