Scheduling operations in systems with variable processing time

In this work a scheduling operation problem with variable processing times is analysed. In particular this project is concerned with the scheduling of the truck load operations in an automatic warehouse. The truck load operations can be assumed as processing tasks in parallel, with ready times (availability of the trucks) and due dates (trip cut off time). Processing time is variable and depends upon the number of tasks simultaneously in progress; a minimum number of simultaneous tasks is imposed to guarantee the nominal rate of expedition of the warehouse. A procedure based on Dynamic Programming with truck expedition times ordered by EDD rule is presented. The algorithm efficiency is also discussed.