Adaptive policies for multi‐mode project scheduling under uncertainty

In this paper we propose an adaptive model for multi‐mode project scheduling under uncertainty. We assume that there is a due date for concluding the project and a tardiness penalty for failing to meet this due date, and that several distinct modes may be used to undertake each activity. We define scheduling policies based on a set of thresholds. The starting time of the activity is compared with those thresholds in order to define the execution mode. We propose a procedure, based on the electromagnetism heuristic, for choosing a scheduling policy. In computational tests, we conclude that the adaptive scheduling policy found by using the model and the heuristic solution procedure is consistently better than the optimal non‐adaptive policy. When the different modes have very different characteristics and there is a reasonable difference between the average duration of the project and the due date, the cost advantage of the adaptive policy becomes very significant.