Optimal cycle time and production rate in a family production context with shelf life considerations

This paper considers the problem of determining the optimal production rate for each item and the optimal cycle time for the family of items in a family production context with restrictions on the shelf life of the various items in the family. An algorithm that determines the optimal production rate for all the items as well as the optimal cycle time is proposed. This is an improvement over the existing method by Silver that can determine the optimal production rate only for one item for which the shelf life constraint is binding. Examples are provided to illustrate the proposed method.