A computer aided technique for optimal scheduling

Abstract

The paper describes an unorthodox technique for optimal scheduling in a production flow shop depending on a range of optimisation parameters for profitable manufacture. In operations scheduling, the problem is to timetable the processing of jobs on machines or work centres so that some measure of performance achieves its optimal value. Typical flow shop criteria are, the total waiting time of jobs, the total idle time of machines and the total elapsed time. The proposed technique eliminates most sequences not likely to yield a near optimal solution and determines an appropriate initial feasible solution. The possible areas for improvement can then be identified and an iterative procedure is used to determine the optimal solution for any performance criteria. The method is easy and quick to use in practice, either manually or using a computer.