Production scheduling: Practice and theory

This paper examines critically the role that Operational Research has played in developing production schedules at the aggregate, product, component, and operational levels. It concludes that some areas and problems are more receptive than others. Analytic techniques may be appropriate, where model conditions can be defined with reasonable certainty, and problem size is limited, but otherwise the emphasis is on developing flexible, integrative, and robust scheduling systems that provide the correct balance between (centralised) planning and shopfloor production control. At the same time, it is clear that other disciplines can contribute, and the position of Operational Research OR with respect to Materials Requirements Planning and Just-in-Time Production is explored. Since the topic is a vast one, discussion is confined to mainstream scheduling activities and the interface between theory and practice.