Title: A two-step dynamic scheduling and assignment method for tooling original design manufacturers

Authors: Chieh Lee; Xun Xu; Ming-Feng Yang; Yaning Yang

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Yuan Ze University, 135 Yuan-Tung Road, Chung-Li, 32003, Taiwan ' Department of Management, Operations, and Marketing, College of Business Administration, California State University, Stanislaus, One University Circle, Turlock, CA, 95382, USA ' Department of Transportation Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, No. 2, Beining Rd., Jhongjheng District, Keelung City 202, Taiwan ' Taiwan Distribution Center Co., Ltd., No. 1, Hongchang St., Linkou Dist., New Taipei City 24452, Taiwan

Abstract: Tooling original design manufacturers have to meet highly customised product design requirements and provide a reliable delivery time for their buyers. For such mass customised tooling, high uncertainties and complexity are inevitable in the manufacturing process, especially in the labour-intensive final assembly department. We propose a two-step dynamic method that helps the tooling manufacturer in scheduling and assigning jobs at its assembling department. First, the algorithm creates a queue for incoming orders based on the bottleneck sector with a modified critical ratio (mCR). Second, the orders are assigned to assembling teams by the Hungarian method based on the availability and competitive advantage of each team. This method allows managers to update each operations team on-site, reduce the statistical dependency, and avoid work-in-process inventory build-up in the production system. In a numerical study, we illustrate the effectiveness and cost reduction potential of our method.

Keywords: scheduling; dynamic assignment; Hungarian method; tooling industry; open job shop.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2021.113606

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2021 Vol.38 No.3, pp.395 - 418

Received: 06 Dec 2018
Accepted: 12 Mar 2019
Published online: 15 Mar 2021 *

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