Modelling realism in aggregate planning: a goal-search approach

SUMMARY

This paper considers the ability of the existing aggregate planning approaches to model the type and range of planning variables currently used in industrial planning. From this stems the initiative to present a goal-search approach to aggregate planning, which has the ability to model across a wider range of real-world planning and environmental conditions. The validity of the approach is checked by comparing it against other prominent planning approaches. Finally the goal-search performance is demonstrated through considering variable worker productivity, profit and multiple goals.