Project surface regions: A decision support methodology for multitasking workers assignment in just-in-time systems

This research develops a decision support methodology called project surface regions (PSR) via the use of discrete-event simulation and response surface methodology. It is used to assist production managers in determining the appropriate number of multitasking workers and the corresponding dynamic dispatching rule-pair when a JIT system's behavior changes. A set of dynamic dispatching rule-pairs, including a new invented rule-pair, is considered to demonstrate the application of PSR.