A resource scheduling model for complex equipment development projects considering random overlapping and random feedback of activities

ABSTRACT

Aiming to address the time and resource conflict problem caused by multiple tasks and frequent overlapping at each level in the process of complex equipment development, this article constructs a design structure matrix–graphical evaluation and review technique (DSM-GERT) hybrid model, takes the shortest duration of the project as the optimization objective and solves it using the genetic algorithm. Under the conditions of meeting the constraints of time, cost and quality, the project’s parameters are improved by adjusting the resource inputs. The study found that when project resources are insufficient, intertask messaging should be avoided as much as possible. If messaging is initiated, early messaging can be effective in reducing resource consumption, and decision makers can make trade-offs based on their preferences for resources.

KEYWORDS:

• Complex equipment
• time–resource scheduling
• random overlapping
• random feedback

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data used to support the findings of this study will be made available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work is partially funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 71503103], National Social Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 19FGLB031 and 22AJL002], Outstanding Youth in Social Sciences of Jiangsu Province , Qinglan Project of Jiangsu Province, Soft Science Foundation of Wuxi City [grant number KX-24-A05] and Engineering Research Center of Integration and Application of Digital Learning Technology, Ministry of Education [grant number 1321005].