A model to examine the effect of loading conditions on scheduling rules in a job shop environment

Abstract

Although a great deal of research has been carried out in the field of job scheduling this has generally been directed towards examining the benefits of particular rules and presenting improved algorithms. This paper examines how real job shop problems can be modelled and available scheduling rules examined for particular capacity loading conditions. A model of a medium-size production job shop is developed and it is shown that, for their particular shop layout and job mix, the performance and ranking of particular rules with respect to certain criteria, change with shop conditions. The model developed can easily be applied to a wide range of job shop situations and once performance charts have been produced for those scheduling rules available, they can be used to aid the existing scheduling system whether manual or computer based.