A multicriteria heuristic method to improve resource allocation in multiproject scheduling

Many works published in the area of project management make reference to the scheduling of single projects and time objectives like minimising project duration. Nevertheless, frequently companies manage various projects which share a pool of constrained resources, taking into account other objectives in addition to time. In order to add flexibility in using project scheduling tools, we have developed a multicriteria heuristic that improves lexicographically two criteria: one time type – mean project delay or multiproject duration increase – and one no time type – project splitting, in-process inventory, resource levelling or idle resources – that can be chosen by the user. The multicriteria heuristic algorithm consists of several algorithms based on the improvement of multiproject feasible schedules. Through an extensive computational study, we have shown that this method improves the feasible multiproject schedule obtained from heuristic methods based on the priority rules coded Maximum Total Work Content and Minimum Latest Finish Time as well as project management software – Microsoft Project, CA-SuperProject, Time Line and Project Scheduler.