Load balancing with 3 factors
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Hi folks, I've tried Googling for an answer to this but keep getting directed down network load balancing which, although related, is not my scenario. My scenario: I have 3 products (x,y and z) which take 2000, 4000 and 5000 labour hours to assemble respectively. If I want to produce say 50 of product x, 40 of product y and 60 of product z in a year is there an algorithm for distributing the production (the loading) so that the labour hours are spread as evenly as possible throughout the year? I'm quite happy to be offered some additional reading / guidance or a general solution (teach a man to fish etc.). That's always assuming there is an answer of course :-). Andy B
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Hi folks, I've tried Googling for an answer to this but keep getting directed down network load balancing which, although related, is not my scenario. My scenario: I have 3 products (x,y and z) which take 2000, 4000 and 5000 labour hours to assemble respectively. If I want to produce say 50 of product x, 40 of product y and 60 of product z in a year is there an algorithm for distributing the production (the loading) so that the labour hours are spread as evenly as possible throughout the year? I'm quite happy to be offered some additional reading / guidance or a general solution (teach a man to fish etc.). That's always assuming there is an answer of course :-). Andy B
I am not sure whether this is what you want, but I really think you need to learn some cost/lost functions to decide how to manage the resources to minimize the cost and maximize the outputs. If I had paid any more attention to the class, I would have learnt how the maximization or cost reduction algorithms work, but... [Cost function - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost\_function). Following resources will help you in understanding the overall algorithm, then write your own, [Cost Function - Coursera.org](https://www.coursera.org/learn/machine-learning/lecture/1XG8G/cost-function) [Mathematical optimization - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical\_optimization)
The shit I complain about It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem ~! Firewall !~
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Hi folks, I've tried Googling for an answer to this but keep getting directed down network load balancing which, although related, is not my scenario. My scenario: I have 3 products (x,y and z) which take 2000, 4000 and 5000 labour hours to assemble respectively. If I want to produce say 50 of product x, 40 of product y and 60 of product z in a year is there an algorithm for distributing the production (the loading) so that the labour hours are spread as evenly as possible throughout the year? I'm quite happy to be offered some additional reading / guidance or a general solution (teach a man to fish etc.). That's always assuming there is an answer of course :-). Andy B
[How to: Use Linear Programming using the Solver Foundation Services APIs](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff628587(v=vs.93).aspx)
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then". ― Blaise Pascal
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[How to: Use Linear Programming using the Solver Foundation Services APIs](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff628587(v=vs.93).aspx)
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then". ― Blaise Pascal
Thanks Gerry but in this instance I'll be programming in a non-Microsoft environment, so making API calls will not be possible, or at least not easily. I have used the Excel solver function in the past for optimization exercises and it is very effective.
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I am not sure whether this is what you want, but I really think you need to learn some cost/lost functions to decide how to manage the resources to minimize the cost and maximize the outputs. If I had paid any more attention to the class, I would have learnt how the maximization or cost reduction algorithms work, but... [Cost function - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost\_function). Following resources will help you in understanding the overall algorithm, then write your own, [Cost Function - Coursera.org](https://www.coursera.org/learn/machine-learning/lecture/1XG8G/cost-function) [Mathematical optimization - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical\_optimization)
The shit I complain about It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem ~! Firewall !~
Thanks Afzaal, the cost function is certainly what I'd like to end up with but when I look into the articles it quickly gets to a level of mathematical notation that I'm not comfortable with, despite being an engineering graduate (long time ago though). I think in this case I'm going to have to approximate something by working out each products weekly average, then phase shifting them by a number of days each and see if I can derive a function from this somehow. It won't be optimal but then real-world production usually isn't :) . The links reference some fascinating material though, it's certainly an area I'd like to explore in more mathematical detail at some point. Andy B
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Thanks Afzaal, the cost function is certainly what I'd like to end up with but when I look into the articles it quickly gets to a level of mathematical notation that I'm not comfortable with, despite being an engineering graduate (long time ago though). I think in this case I'm going to have to approximate something by working out each products weekly average, then phase shifting them by a number of days each and see if I can derive a function from this somehow. It won't be optimal but then real-world production usually isn't :) . The links reference some fascinating material though, it's certainly an area I'd like to explore in more mathematical detail at some point. Andy B
Or on the other hand you can consider looking for a library that lets you do this, I do not know of any but a quick Google search will yield a few results easily.
The shit I complain about It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem ~! Firewall !~