Scheduling the Production Obtained by Means of Production Processes Organised in Variable Flow

Abstract

The production processes are analysed, where multiple products are made in continuous or discontinuous flow, and their movement between two successive workplaces are performed in batches. It is a matter of homogenous groups of products and analogous groups of products that have the same order in terms of passing by the various workplaces, but it is not mandatory for these products to go by all workplaces. The processing times by operations of various products are not the same. Taking into account the synchronisation level, the flow production lines of the benchmarks can be in continuous flow or discontinuous flow, which requires or does not require an adjustment of the flow production line. It is necessary to know the order of assembling and delivering the finished products and the labour volume related to adjusting the machines to achieve a high level of loading the machines and equipment on the flow manufacturing line. The sizes, gauge, and volume of the parts that are processed on the flow production line must be known. It is necessary to elaborate the production schedule of the variable flow line that will take into account the nature of the products that are to be manufactured, the time needed to process each product at a workplace, the total product processing time achieved on that flow manufacturing line. For this, the level of loading every workplace and flow manufacturing line, the demand of performers stated in man/hour, time to occupy a job, and the manufacturing line, etc. will all be calculated. Should the production be achieved by production processes where a single operation is performed for similar products, but of different sizes or quality, the production schedule for this type of production shall correlate the production thusly achieved with the production capacity for a complete production cycle. Determining the frequency of releases of products into manufacturing is based on the criterion of production expenses totaled for all products that are made by processing in that operation.