Modern planning and scheduling technologies

A number of successful applications which have been developed using modern planning and scheduling methods are described. The applications cover a number of areas of current business interest and include manufacturing, logistics and crisis planning. In addition to the techniques and benefits described through the applications, a number of other planning and scheduling techniques are introduced and described. While certain techniques have had a major impact in some areas, further research and development is required. These future developments are targeted at providing integrated intelligent planning rather than the ´islands´ of techniques which currently exist. A description is given of an integrated planning and scheduling system which could address the current problems in integrating legacy systems with modern planning and scheduling technologies.