Multi-item, single-machine scheduling problem with stochastic demands: A comparison of heuristics

This paper discusses the results of simulation tests for multi-item, single-machine production systems facing stochastic, time-varying demands. Six different heuristics are compared with the objective of minimizing the sum of changeover and inventory costs. Tests are performed to evaluate the effect of the stationarity of the demand process and of the level of forecast errors on the performance of the heuristics tested.