Multi-Project Scheduling by Fuzzy Combinatorial Auction

This study aims to solve a multi-project, multi-mode, and fuzzy resource-constrained project scheduling problem. Multi-mode means that the activities in a project can be accomplished in one out of several execution modes, each of which represents an alternative combination of resource requirement of the activity. This study considers a hierarchical decision-making structure, where a higher-level manager determines the distribution of resources to multiple projects and individual project manager attempts to optimize the output of the project. Resource usage in a project is a selection from various possible combinations of resources due to the multi-mode nature. The proposed solution procedure employs combinatorial auction mechanisms to determine resource allocations to projects, with the higher-level manager serving as the auctioneer and the project managers at the low-level bidding for resources. A fuzzy combinatorial auction are used, respectively, for cases of soft capacity constraints.