A comparison of three optimization methods for scheduling maintenance of high cost, long-lived capital assets

A range of minimization methods exist enabling planners to tackle tough scheduling problems. We compare three scheduling techniques representative of "old" or standard technologies, evolving technologies, and advanced technologies. The problem we address includes the complications of scheduling long-term upgrades and refurbishments essential to maintaining expensive capital assets. We concentrate on the costs of being able to do maintenance work. Using a standard technology as the baseline technique, constraint programming (CP) produces a 50-yr maintenance approach that is 31% less costly. Genetic programming produces an approach that is 60% less costly.