Modern planning and scheduling technologies

This paper describes a number successful applications which have been developed using modern planning and scheduling methods. The focus of the paper is to describe a number of these applications and to identify the specific user need being addressed, the techniques applied and the benefits which were found. The applications cover a number of areas of current business interest and include: manufacturing, logistics, and crisis planning. In addition to the techniques 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. A description of the areas which need to be developed further is provided together with a list of pointers to further information