Title: A heuristic search routine for solving two objective mixed integer LP problems for scheduling in a service factory

Authors: Faizul Huq; M. Khurrum S. Bhutta; Ziaul Huq

Addresses: Management Department, College of Business, Ohio University, Copeland Hall, Athens, OH 45701, USA ' Management Department, College of Business, Ohio University, Copeland Hall, Athens, OH 45701, USA ' Management Department, College of Business Administration, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA

Abstract: This paper presents a two-objective mixed binary integer linear programming model and a search routine solution method is proposed using a service factory environment with multi-processor workstations and a constant daily workload, for employee scheduling, number of machines per station, and makespan minimisation objectives. The search routine is simple enough to be implemented by managers using readily available spreadsheet programs. Solution of the four-station service factory formulation yielded results for improvement in the makespan of the shop. This search routine can be used by management in streamlining and optimising the service factory production environment as exemplified in the four-station case, and could also be applied to multi-processor flow shops.

Keywords: service factory; scheduling; lot splitting; binary integer linear programming; makespan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2019.102069

International Journal of Operational Research, 2019 Vol.36 No.1, pp.40 - 61

Received: 19 Apr 2016
Accepted: 30 Sep 2016

Published online: 06 Sep 2019 *

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