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Assignment Problem

The Assignment Problem in Operation Research is a linear programming challenge aimed at minimizing costs or time by assigning a set of tasks to a set of resources in a one-to-one manner. It is represented using a cost matrix and can be categorized into balanced and unbalanced problems, with the Hungarian Method being a common solution algorithm. Applications of the assignment problem span various fields including resource allocation, scheduling, supply chain management, and project management.

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9 views3 pages

Assignment Problem

The Assignment Problem in Operation Research is a linear programming challenge aimed at minimizing costs or time by assigning a set of tasks to a set of resources in a one-to-one manner. It is represented using a cost matrix and can be categorized into balanced and unbalanced problems, with the Hungarian Method being a common solution algorithm. Applications of the assignment problem span various fields including resource allocation, scheduling, supply chain management, and project management.

Uploaded by

chatterjeeamit250
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Explain the concept of the Assignment Problem in

Operation Research.

Assignment problem is a special type of linear programming in


Operation Research where the objectives is to minimize the cost or
time of completing a number of jobs (set of tasks) by a number of
persons (set of agents or workers).

❖ Characteristics of Assignment problem:


▪ One-to-One Assignment:
The assignment problem requires one-to-one correspondence
between task and resources. This means that each resource is
assigned to a single task, and each task is performed by a single
resource.

▪ Cost Matrix Representation


The assignment problem is typically represented using a cost matrix:
• The rows of the matrix represent the resources (e.g., workers,
machines, salespeople).
• The columns represent the tasks (e.g., jobs, projects, locations).
• Each element in the matrix indicates the cost (or profit) of
assigning a particular resource to a specific task.
• The goal is to find the assignment that results in the minimum
total cost (or maximum total benefit).

▪ Balanced vs. Unbalanced Assignment Problems


• A balanced assignment problem occurs when the number of
tasks equals the number of resources. In this case, the problem
can be directly solved without any modifications.
• An unbalanced assignment problem occurs when there is an
unequal number of tasks and resources. To address this,
"dummy" tasks or resources are added to balance the matrix,
typically with a cost or benefit of zero for the dummy
assignments.

❖ Method for Solving the Assignment Problem:


• Hungarian Method:
This is a widely used algorithm specifically designed to
solve assignment problems efficiently. It works by reducing
the cost matrix step by step to find the minimum cost
assignment.
Example: Find the Assignment of operated to appropriate
job with lowest possible time to complete the job.

Jobs Operation

1 2 3 4 5
1 5 6 8 6 4
2 4 8 7 7 5
3 7 7 4 5 4
4 6 5 6 7 5
5 4 7 8 6 8

❖ Applications of Assignment Problems:


Assignment Problems have numerous applications in
various fields, including:
1.Resource Allocation:
Assigning resources (e.g., machines, vehicles) to tasks or
projects.
2. Scheduling:
Assigning workers to shifts, tasks, or jobs.
3. Supply Chain Management:
Assigning suppliers to customers or products.
4. Transportation:
Assigning vehicles to routes or tasks.
5. Project Management:
Assigning team members to tasks or projects.
6. Human Resource Management:
Assigning employees to roles or tasks.
7.Logistics:
Assigning warehouses to customers or products.
8. Manufacturing:
Assigning machines to production tasks.
The assignment problem provides a structured approach to decision-
making in situations where resources need to be allocated to tasks in
an optimal way.

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