Chapter 15: Problem 7

Why do people use dispatching rules instead of finding an optimal schedule?

Short Answer

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Answer: People use dispatching rules instead of finding an optimal schedule due to their computational simplicity, ease of use, adaptability, and their ability to provide reasonably good solutions. Dispatching rules offer a more practical and efficient approach to dealing with complex scheduling problems in various production and service environments, whereas optimal scheduling algorithms are often more computationally complex and harder to implement.

Step by step solution

Understanding Dispatching Rules and Optimal Scheduling

Dispatching rules are simple and easy-to-use guidelines that prioritize tasks, allowing service managers and operators to decide the sequence of jobs to be done. These rules are designed to save time and simplify decision-making, acting as practical guidelines for organizations facing complex scheduling issues. On the other hand, an optimal schedule represents the best possible sequence or allocation of tasks to minimize a specific performance measure, such as completion time or tardiness. Finding an optimal schedule generally requires more complex algorithms and higher computational effort.

Reason 1: Computational Complexity

One of the main reasons why people use dispatching rules instead of finding an optimal schedule is that optimal scheduling is complex, especially for large-scale problems. As the number of tasks and resources increases, the computing effort required grows exponentially, making it almost impossible to find an optimal solution using available computational resources. On the contrary, dispatching rules are less computation-intensive and provide a more practical approach to organizing tasks.

Reason 2: Simplicity and Ease of Use

Dispatching rules are more straightforward and more comfortable to understand and implement than optimal scheduling algorithms. They can be applied even by those with limited knowledge of operations research or optimization techniques. This simplicity encourages organizations to adopt dispatching rules, especially when optimal scheduling solutions are not feasible.

Reason 3: Adaptability and Flexibility

Dispatching rules can be easily modified and adapted to various situations, making them suitable for different types of production or service environments. They can also account for uncertainties and real-time changes, allowing organizations to adapt their scheduling decisions quickly when faced with unexpected events. Conversely, optimal scheduling algorithms are often more rigid and less flexible in handling real-world complexities and uncertainties.

Reason 4: Reasonable Trade-off Between Quality and Complexity

While dispatching rules do not guarantee an optimal schedule, they often provide good enough solutions that are close to the optimum. In many practical situations, these solutions strike a reasonable trade-off between the quality of the resulting schedule and the complexity of finding it. In conclusion, people use dispatching rules instead of finding an optimal schedule due to their computational simplicity, ease of use, adaptability, and their ability to provide reasonably good solutions. Although dispatching rules may not result in the best possible schedule, they provide a practical and efficient approach to dealing with complex scheduling problems in various production and service environments.

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Why do people use dispatching rules instead of finding an optimal schedule?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Dispatching Rules and Optimal Scheduling

Reason 1: Computational Complexity

Reason 2: Simplicity and Ease of Use

Reason 3: Adaptability and Flexibility

Reason 4: Reasonable Trade-off Between Quality and Complexity

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