Robust Capacity Planning for Project Management

We consider a significant problem that arises in the planning of many projects. Project companies often use outsourced providers that require capacity reservations that must be contracted before task durations are realized. We model these decisions for a company that, given partially characterized distributional information, assumes the worst-case distribution for task durations. Once task durations are realized, the project company makes decisions about fast tracking and outsourced crashing, to minimize the total capacity reservation, fast tracking, crashing, and makespan penalty costs. We model the company’s objective using the target-based measure of minimizing an underperformance riskiness index. We allow for correlation in task performance, and for piecewise linear costs of crashing and makespan penalties. An optimal solution of the discrete, nonlinear model is possible for small to medium size projects. We compare the performance of our model against the best available benchmarks from the robust optimization literature, and show that it provides lower risk and greater robustness to distributional information. Our work thus enables more effective risk minimization in projects, and provides insights about how to make more robust capacity reservation decisions. Summary of Contribution: This work studies a financially significant planning problem that arises in project management. Companies that face uncertainties in project execution may need to reserve capacity with outsourced providers. Given that decision, they further need to plan their operational decisions to protect against a bad outcome. We model and solve this problem via adjustable distributionally robust optimization. While this problem involves two-stage decision making, which is computationally challenging in general, we develop a computationally efficient algorithm to find the exact optimal solution for instances of practical size.

Simple assembly line balancing problem of Type 1 with grey demand and grey task durations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a mixed integer programming model for simple assembly line balancing problems (SALBP) with Type 1 when the annual demand and task durations are uncertain and encoded with grey numbers. Design/methodology/approach Grey theory and grey numbers are used for illustrating the uncertainty of parameters in an SALBP, where the objective is to minimize the total number of workstations. The paper proposes a 0-1 mathematical model for SALBP of Type 1 with grey demand and grey task durations. Findings The uncertainty of the demand and task durations are encoded with grey numbers and a well-known 0-1 mathematical model for SALBP of Type 1 is modified to find the minimum number of workstations in order to meet both the lower and upper bounds of the uncertain demand. The results obtained from the proposed mathematical model show a task-workstation assignment that does not distribute precedence relations among tasks and workstations and the sum of task durations in each single workstation is less than or equal to the grey cycle time. Originality/value The grey theory and grey numbers have not been previously used to identify uncertainties in assembly line balancing problems. Therefore, this study provides an important contribution to the literature.

Measurements of Trunk Sway for Stance and Gait Tasks 2 Years after Vestibular Neurectomy

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in balance control for stance and gait tasks in patients 2 years before and after vestibular neurectomy (VN) performed to alleviate intractable Meniere’s disease. Amplitudes of trunk sway in roll and pitch directions were measured for stance and gait tasks in 19 patients using gyroscopes mounted at the lower-back. Measurements before VN and 2 years later were compared to those of healthy age-matched controls (HC). We also examined if changes in trunk sway amplitudes were correlated with patients’ subjective assessment of disability using the AAO-HNS scale. For patients with low AAO-HNS scores 0–2 (n = 14), trunk roll and pitch sway velocities, standing eyes closed on foam, increased 2 years post VN compared to HC values (p < 0.01). Trunk sway amplitudes remained at levels of HC for simple gait tasks, but task durations were longer and therefore gait slower. For complex gait tasks (stairs), balance control remained impaired at 2 years. In patients with AAO-HNS high scores level 6 (n = 5), balance control remained abnormal, compared to HC, 2 years postoperatively for all stance, several simple and all complex gait tasks. Trunk sway in the pitch and roll directions for stance tasks was correlated with clinical (AAO-HNS) scores (p ≤ 0.05). These results indicate that VN leads to chronic balance problems for stance and complex gait tasks. The problems are greater for patients with high compared to low AAO-HNS scores, thereby explaining the different symptoms reported by these patients. The lack of balance recovery in VN patients to levels of HCs after 2 years contrasts with the 3 months average recovery period for acute vestibular neuritis patients and is indicative of the effects of neurectomy on central compensation processes.

Effects of Display Curvature and Task Duration on Proofreading Task Performance, Visual Fatigue, Visual Discomfort, and Display Satisfaction

With more curved display products in the market and more exposure to such products, it is necessary to examine the effects of display curvature and task duration from the ergonomics perspective. The current study examined the effects of these two factors on visual performance, visual fatigue, visual discomfort, and display satisfaction during proofreading tasks. We incorporated five display curvatures (600R, 1140R, 2000R, 4000R, and flat) and five task durations (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min). Each of 50 individuals completed a 1-hr proofreading task at one of five display curvature conditions. The horizontal viewing distance was fixed at 600mm. Proofreading performance (speed and error rate), subjective visual fatigue [on ECQ (Eye Complaint Questionnaire)], physiological visual fatigue [CFF (Critical Fusion Frequency), blink duration, and blink frequency], visual discomfort (on VAS), and display satisfaction (on VAS) were measured. The highest mean proofreading speed was at 600R. The mean proofreading speed and error rate increased by 15.5% and 22.3%, respectively, over the 1-h task. The mean ECQ score and visual discomfort increased by 188.6% and 107.2% during 45 and 60 min of the task, respectively. The mean CFF and display satisfaction decreased by 0.49Hz and 11.2% during 15 and 15-45 min of the task. A polynomial regression model for subjective visual fatigue was developed (adjusted R2 = 0.6). These findings can be used when determining ergonomic display curvatures and predicting visual fatigue.

Repetitive Lifting Tasks in Logistics – Effects on Humans at Different Lifting Task Durations

A volunteer study at the Chair of Ergonomics (TUM) investigates which cardiovascular effects on the human body are to be expected from repetitive lifting movements at different load times, and which requirements arise accordingly with respect to different lifting task durations by using the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) method. Two different weight classes and three different load times are combined with a conventional lifting task. In addition to the acquisition of objective data, such as oxygen consumption (V’O2/kg) or heart rate (HR), the subjective stress using the Borg RPE scale is determined and analyzed. 27 test persons (M=27.6 years, SD=±3.1) participated in the study. At 70.4% less than three quarter of the participants in the test were men. Both the objective and subjective data show significant differences between the mentioned weight classes. A load time of more than 10 minutes for analyzing manual handling tasks by using CPET is recommended.