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  • © 2014

Optimal Stochastic Scheduling

  • Offers an entry-level reading material for students to learn and understand the fundamentals of stochastic scheduling
  • Includes the latest developments and research topics in this area
  • Ideal unified reference for researchers and practitioners who are working in stochastic scheduling
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: International Series in Operations Research & Management Science (ISOR, volume 207)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Basic Concepts

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 1-47
  3. Regular Performance Measures

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 49-94
  4. Irregular Performance Measures

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 95-140
  5. Stochastic Machine Breakdowns

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 141-185
  6. Optimal Stopping Problems

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 187-223
  7. Multi-Armed Bandit Processes

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 225-252
  8. Dynamic Policies

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 253-298
  9. Stochastic Scheduling with Incomplete Information

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 299-319
  10. Optimal Policies in Time-Varying Scheduling

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 321-346
  11. More Stochastic Scheduling Models

    • Xiaoqiang Cai, Xianyi Wu, Xian Zhou
    Pages 347-394
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 395-416

About this book

Many interesting and important results on stochastic scheduling problems have been developed in recent years, with the aid of probability theory. This book provides a comprehensive and unified coverage of studies in stochastic scheduling. The objective is two-fold: (i) to summarize the elementary models and results in stochastic scheduling, so as to offer an entry-level reading material for students to learn and understand the fundamentals of this area and (ii) to include in details the latest developments and research topics on stochastic scheduling, so as to provide a useful reference for researchers and practitioners in this area.

Optimal Stochastic Scheduling is organized into two parts: Chapters 1-4 cover fundamental models and results, whereas Chapters 5-10 elaborate on more advanced topics. More specifically, Chapter 1 provides the relevant basic theory of probability and then introduces the basic concepts and notation of stochastic scheduling. In Chapters 2 and3, the authors review well-established models and scheduling policies, under regular and irregular performance measures, respectively. Chapter 4 describes models with stochastic machine breakdowns. Chapters 5 and 6 introduce, respectively, the optimal stopping problems and the multi-armed bandit processes, which are necessary for studies of more advanced subjects in subsequent chapters. Chapter 7 is focused on optimal dynamic policies, which allow adjustments of policies based on up-to-date information. Chapter 8 describes stochastic scheduling with incomplete information in the sense that the probability distributions of random variables contain unknown parameters, which can however be estimated progressively according to updated information. Chapter 9 is devoted to the situation where the processing time of a job depends on the time when it is started. Lastly, in Chapter 10 the authors look at several recent models beyond those surveyed in the previous chapters.

Reviews

“As the book both summarizes the elementary models and discusses in details the newest, more complicated topics on stochastic scheduling, it is a valuable contribution, which is simultaneously a well-organized reading material for the graduate and postgraduate students, as well as a good starting point for further literature research for the researchers in the area.” (Marcin Anholcer, zbMATH 1401.90008, 2019)



“This book provides, in about equal measure, an introduction to stochastic scheduling and discussions of several advanced topics in the area. … This advanced text provides a useful introduction to stochastic scheduling and should prove to be of particular interest to researchers in thisbranch of scheduling.” (Andrew Wirth, Mathematical Reviews, March, 2017)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR

    Xiaoqiang Cai

  • Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

    Xianyi Wu

  • Department of Applied Finance and Actuarial Studies, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, Australia

    Xian Zhou

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access