Rescheduling strategies for integrating rush orders with preventive maintenance in a two-machine flow shop

Abstract

Preventive maintenance and rush orders are related. Although preventive maintenance is essential for maximising equipment reliability, it can substantially slow the manufacturing process. Rush order rescheduling involves similar conflicts. Scheduling maintains the robustness of the production schedule, but rush orders require rescheduling. Although preventive maintenance and rush orders are essential manufacturing processes, research on the integration of these functions is insufficient. Unlike recent work that analyses preventive maintenance or rush orders as separate functions, this study proposes an integrated model that analyses both preventive maintenance and rush orders in a two-machine flow shop. The model is then evaluated using two different rescheduling methods. Non-parametric analysis of the models revealed that these two rescheduling methods differ significantly under integrated maintenance and rush order situations.

Keywords:

• scheduling
• preventive maintenance
• flow shop

Acknowledgements

The Authors want to express gratitude to the National Science Council, Taiwan (NSC 100 – 2221 – E – 033 – 031) for its financial support on this study.