Addressing the gap in scheduling research: a review of optimization and heuristic methods in production scheduling

This paper considers the gap between scheduling theory and scheduling practice. The development and the main results of classical scheduling theory are reviewed and presented in an easily accessible way. Recent trends in scheduling research which attempt to make it more relevant and applicable are described. The nature of the gap between theory and practice is discussed. The failure of classical scheduling theory to address the total environment within which the scheduling function operates is noted. However, scheduling research in operations management and manufacturing systems tends to ignore the rich vein of methods, techniques and results in the classical theory. The need for an integrated scheduling research effort, containing elements of both approaches, is stressed.