Master Production Scheduling for a Process Industry Environment : A Case Study

Previous research has not addressed the problem of developing a master production schedule (MPS) for production systems with minimum batch‐size production restrictions. Proposes a weighted integer goal‐programming model for the development of a rolling horizon master production schedule, under conditions of demand certainty, for a process industry environment with multiple production lines and minimum batch‐size production restrictions. The presence of multiple and often conflicting goals prevalent in production planning and scheduling is explicitly incorporated in the model. The model can easily be implemented on a microcomputer and the master production schedule developed is in spreadsheet format and can easily be understood by a practitioner. Uses a case study conducted for a paint company to illustrate and validate the model. Results show that the MPS developed using the proposed model is superior in terms of total cost when compared with actual company performance.