The Weibull scheduling index for client driven manufacturing processes

This paper highlights a new dispatching rule based on an index developed from a modified two parameter Weibull probability distribution function. This new dispatching rule is named the Weibull Urgency Index (WUI), which uses the capability of the Weibull function's generation of unique curves to develop an index behavior based on job type. Hence, this unique index curve reflects how a job will behave within the queue. The paper describes in detail the development of this new heuristic function and it is compared to the well established Apparent Tardiness Cost (ATC) dispatching rule through a simulation study. The new index is tested in a stochastic environment where jobs arrive randomly and the processing time of the jobs is also not completely known.