An integer programming model for Load-Oriented Manufacturing Control

Order Review and Release (ORR) is a comprehensive approach to job-shop scheduling. Load-Oriented Manufacturing Control (LOMC) is an effective ORR method, and it restricts the workload of workstations by periodically release right orders into workshop. When selecting orders, ¿balancing workload¿ and ¿meeting order due date¿ are two contradict objectives. LOMC puts more emphasis on the latter. However, previous studies show that ¿balancing workload¿ is quite important, and priority should be given to ¿balancing workload¿ when order due dates show small difference. So it improves the order release procedure of LOMC by applying a 0-1 integer programming model to coordinate the two objectives delicately. The new method is named ILOMC (Integer-programming-model-based LOMC). Simulation experiments have been carried out to compare LOMC and ILOMC. Simulation results show that ILOMC outperforms LOMC as it can better balance workload.