A combined switching algorithm and linear decision rule approach to production planning

Abstract

The problem of medium term production planning and control is compounded in many manufacturing concerns by the wide variety of products and by the presence of stochastic variables. This paper presents a simple heuristic approach to the problem by essentially combining a simple linear decision rule with a switching algorithm to give multi-product control operating within capacity limits. The approach is examined in depth by description of an industrial study and the results of the study suggest that the method requires little computing time, that it is conceptually simple and that it gives good results. It is suggested that the approach could be extremely useful in a wide variety of batch manufacturing environments.