Andrew L Baker

US Patent:

7991633, Aug 2, 2011

Filed:

Dec 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/014919

Inventors:

Andrew B. Baker - Eugene OR, US
Matthew L. Ginsberg - Eugene OR, US
Tristan Smith - Eugene OR, US
Daniel B. Keith - Eugene OR, US
Andrew Parkes - Walsall, GB
Bryan Smith - Eugene OR, US

Assignee:

On Time Systems, Inc. - Eugene OR

International Classification:

G06Q 40/00

US Classification:

705 713, 705 712, 705 711

Abstract:

Increased efficiency and lower cost job scheduling is provided by a system and method that optimizes for cost instead of makespan, and minimizes fluctuations in resource utilization. A schedule is constructed using a workflow scheduling system that includes a load leveler, a cost minimizer, and a manpower planner. The load leveler minimizes makespan, subject to resource limits, and then lowers the resource limits, repeating the process in order to create a flatter schedule. The cost minimizer generates an initial solution, and then incrementally improves it, using the manpower planner to evaluate the different possible solutions. The manpower planner calculates, for a given schedule, the optimal hire/fire decisions to minimize total cost.