Decision Support System for Dynamic Job—shop Scheduling

ABSTRACT This paper deals with dynamic production scheduling in a discrete manufacturing environment. Current MRPII methods do not allow scheduling to be handled easily while alternative, e.g. ‘pull’ methods, such as Kanban, require a stable environment—contrary to the flexibility demanded by rapid market changes. A new approach is therefore required to support production and schedule planners in their day-to-day activities. The approach presented here was developed in the scope of the European projects ESPRIT and EUREKA. It combines the expertise of the planner with the data gathering and processing ability of the computer in order to simulate planning strategies and ultimately obtain a good workplan. A decision support system based on a software package called Interactive Cell Integrated Management (ICIM) illustrates the approach presented here with an industrial implementation.