Workload Balancing Through Recurrent Subcontracting

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bichescu, Bogdan C.; Fry, Michael J.; Polak, George G.
• 署名单位: University of Tennessee System; University of Tennessee Knoxville; University System of Ohio; University of Cincinnati; University System of Ohio; Wright State University Dayton
• 刊物名称: PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1059-1478
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1937-5956.2009.01008.x
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 33-47
• 关键词: subcontracting; workload balancing; recurrent decision-making; Walsh basis functions; mathematical programming

摘要

We model a situation where a firm wishes to balance workload requirements by creating a portfolio of recurrent insourcing and outsourcing contracts. We use harmonic analysis to decompose an input workload profile into a portfolio of insourcing and outsourcing contracts using rectangular-wave basis functions to better achieve some desired constant workload level. However, this initial selection of contracts may result in impractical options. Therefore, we also develop mathematical programs using principles from goal programming and integer programming to refine the portfolio of contracts to more accurately reflect a realistic environment by placing constraints on the available contracts and explicitly considering operational costs. We consider several modeling extensions including the ability to hold limited amounts of inventory and the use of one-shot contracts to supplement our portfolio of recurrent contracts.