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The objective of the algorithm is to determine the optimal resource allocation by obtaining minimum cost or maximum profit. The application receives values from the user (formed as a matrix) and also the type of the problem (maximum profit or minimum cost). The app sets several manipulations on the user’s input and displays him the optimal resource allocation. The reason we chose focusing on the Hungarian algorithm is that we’ve noticed there is a great difficulty solving complex problems manually.
After getting familiar with the windows version we wanted to mobile the application and make it more accessible to the everyday engineer (decrease the necessity of writing down the values and use a laptop or stationary PC). The developing model was based on a “Waterfall” methodology, meaning we have progressed in very classical phases creating the application. In our work we’ll present the following steps: Project planning, designing and projection. During the entire steps of develop we focused our work on the end user entity, trying to simplify the application as possible.
If there are any questions feel free to contact us through our website: http://www. Absolver. Co. C/ System Initiation Project Definition Costumer definition: The IT system designed to provide powerful tools to the engineer in his working field without the necessity computerized station. The application designed to be used by seniors of industrial engineers, and also for further studies to be inducted by junior students. The application can also be used by management and business B. A seniors and students, despite it wasn’t created to their exact needs and from their point of view.
Where can an industrial engineer to be found? Industrial engineer deals with most known types of the industry, as he generally required optimizing simple as complex processes in an organization. An industrial engineer can be found in most of the organizations in the market, from a bakery to a hi-tech company. As industry and technology keeps developing problems naturally tend to get more and more complex, requiring modern industrial engineer think “out of the box” and provides solutions quickly and efficiently.
What are those assignment problems? Assignment Problem: The assignment problem is one of the fundamental combinatorial optimization problems in the branch of optimization or operations research in mathematics. It consists of finding a maximum weight matching in a weighted bipartite graph. In its most general form, the problem is as follows: There are a number of agents and a number of tasks. Any agent can be assigned to perform any task, incurring some cost that may vary depending on the agent- task assignment.
It is required to perform all tasks by assigning exactly one agent to each task in such a way that the total cost of the assignment is minimized. If the numbers of agents and tasks are equal and the total cost of the assignment for all tasks is equal to the sum of the costs for each agent (or the sum of the costs for each task, which is the same thing in this case), then the problem is called the linear assignment problem. Commonly, when speaking of the assignment problem without any additional qualification, then the linear assignment problem is meant.
Which organizations works with computerized assignment problem solver? Most of the organizations do not own an assignment solver program, an industrial engineer generally solves the problem manually (unless the problem is to complex and then there are several solutions – one of them is to send the problem to a company that specialize in such problems). How organizations handle assignment problems? As mentioned before, the industrial engineer writes down the data and solves the problem manually (or in better cases using programs like excel which do not handle unique issues – like big M we’ll mention later on).
What are the current problem regarding solving assignment problems? Manual Process: 1 . As we experienced for ourselves, the process is long and not user friendly. 2. In some cases there are many calculations required, so the more complex the problem the chances for mistakes increase. 3. Some problems are so complex the manual method cannot handle. 4. Environmental issues – requires use of paper. An example for manual solved assignment problem can be found in Appendixes section. Computerized Process: 1 . Requires the organization spend money on computerized station (licenses, maintenance, training). . Requires collecting the data and inputting it to a computer for processing (in case of stationary computer). . Requires collecting the data on paper and transferring the data to a computerized later on, this hold environmental issues and also keeps the engineer away from the action of scene (so if there are correction to be made he needs to get back to the location and recollect the data). 4. Requires space of work (in case of embroiled computer). 5. Environmental issues – consumes more power (workstation and screen).
Performance measurement quantity: Error quantity solving assignment problems (manually): 4 out of 10 solutions (required quantity – O out of 10). Average time solving a moderate problem manually): About half an hour per problem. Average time solving a moderate problem (computerized): Delivering the data from the field to the computer – several minutes, solving – seconds. Questions we’ll be answering: 1. Error count for 10 moderate problems. 2. Required time gathering data, transferring it to the application and solving. Suggested Improvements The IT system objectives (prioritize): 1 .
Saving time and money for the organization. 2. User friendly application (GUI). 3. 100% embroiled application. 4. Preventing error to occur. 5. Allow solving complex problems. 6. Enable solution processing (save or send). . Environmental care – eliminates use of paper and reduces power cost from computerized workstations. 8. Open source support – spreading the knowledge enabling further improvements and studies. Benefits: 1 . Reduce organization costs on computerized station. 2. Completely embroiled powerful application. 3. Improving the calculation procedure (both computerized and manual). . Enabling solving all types of assignment problems. 5. Environmental care – eliminates the need of paper and reduces the power cost from computerized station. 6. Reduce time required transferring the data to a computerized station. 7. Saving money due to handling the entire variety of options. IT system description: Today there is a windows based application developed by former year students, the application works on a windows environment but requires several applications to be installed (due to the face the application do not have installation file).
Furthermore, we discovered the windows based application do not handle all types of assignment problem and has several issues needed to be fixed. The application availability is superior during the fact most of the people own a mobile phone, and the increase popularity of Android@ based phones all ever the world. Those reasons made our selection in Android@ platform so easy. Developing Methodology The chosen development methodology was the “Waterfall” methodology. We chose the selected development methodology for several reasons: 1 . The software requirements are specific and known. . The technology we chose to develop with is clear and accessible. 3. We have upgraded an older version of the application. 4. The required solution is known. The Improved Condition After we have presented the current status, we can discuss the improved application: First and most important the app needs to be completely obliged, easy to use with powerful capabilities designed for an industrial engineer. The application will receive input values from the user (including exceptions values) and the problem type (Maximum or Minimum).
Accordingly it will process the data and provide the optimal solution The application will handle complex problems, regardless the size of the problem or the data inserted (the application would be able to handle wrong input). The requested results should be: 1 . Zero errors (each solution would be the optimal solution). 2. Solution and calculation time reduced to few minutes. 3. A embroiled easy to use application. Primal Attribution Primal Software Requirements What are the requirements the applications should handle?
Organization objectives Quantity objective Quality Objective Priority Creating an interface to an industrial engineer or an organization to solve optimally the assignment problems Solving the variety of possible problems, including Big M and maximum/minimum issues To determine how to assign each resource to each task Solving the assignment problem without any mistakes, saving time and money Fault-free, reliable solution 2 Completely embroiled and accessible application The ability to use the application nevermore Solving the assignment problem optimally Deliver the end user the best solution each and every time 4 Saving paper and power, which translates to money saving.
Environmental care – saving power needed to operate computers or paper required to manual solving 5 Creating the application as an open source code and documentation. Enable the knowledge to be shared and enables further research and development 6 Application features: 1 . Easy and accessible installation (downloaded via designated web site). 2. Easy to use GUI (Graphical user interface), in the English language. 3. Handling Big M and minus Big Ms values. 4. Handling Minimum/Maximum problems. 5. Handling wrong input. 6. The application would self recognize the number of resources and tasks (from the inserted input). 7. Help menu, which explaining the right use in the application. 8. About us menu, including a redirection button to our application website. 9.
Capability to store the solution to the clipboard (and in the future to paste the solution in a SMS or email message). 10. Midway menu enabling to view the inserted input before the solution phase. 11. Complete report about the solution. 12. ‘Clear All’ button which enables deleting all the previous values from the input screen. What features do not exist? 1. Application database. 2. Hebrew menus. Application constraints: 1 . Financial constraints – There in no budget to the development of the application. 2. Time constraints – There is a hand due date in end of second semester. 3. Technology constraints – The application should be installable on all Android@ based hardware. 4.
HER (human resource) constraints – The application and relevant documentation should be prepared using only two students (forming the development team). 5. Software development constraints – The application needs to be developed using the Java and XML scripting languages. . Organization constraints – The application must handle all types of assignment problems. Application Workflow User: An industrial engineer. Event: The need of solving an assignment problem. Event ration: Any given time. Input Workflow: Data SOUrce: User. Input handling: Computerized environment. Input form: A screen with Minimum/Maximum scroll menu, clear input button and text insertion window.
Input description: The input would be composed of figures (positive or negative), Big M (The letter “m” or ‘IM”), and would be separated with a comma mark (“,”) between each value. Quantity assessment: There is virtually no limitation to the matrix size. Input quantity: Data input field there is virtually no limitation to the range the values can be. Output Workflow: Output destination: User. Output presentation: A text window holding the solution data and any relevant information. Output data description: An optimal solution to the assignment problem displayed by a text window with the optimal assignment of each resource. The windows would hold the summary of the resource and the initial matrix (after manipulation).