Economic Batch-Size Determination for Multi-Product Scheduling

Abstract

In the determination of batch-sizes in batch production, different criteria can be used as guiding principles, depending on the specified objectives. In a production schedule consisting of several products, an optimum solution for the whole production schedule is sought. At the same time it is necessary to ensure that the total production costs of each individual product will not exceed a certain pre-determined value. Solutions for overall optimization of the schedule with respect to maximum profit per batch, or with respect to maximum return on the total cost of production of the batch, have already been published. This paper suggests a method for determining the economic batch-sizes when it is desirable to maximize the rate of return per unit time for a multi-product schedule.