Order release in a workload controlled flow-shop with sequence-dependent set-up times

摘要

In this paper, we report a simulation study on the role of sequence-dependentset-up times in decision making at the order release level of a workload controlledmake-to-order flow-shop. The study evaluates the potential for set-ups savings,dependent on the level of workload in the shop, for two alternative strategies,namely considering set-up times centrally, within the release decision or locally,within the dispatching decision. These strategies are compared and assessed onthe basis of two main performance measures namely time in system and standarddeviation of the job lateness. Results indicate that the local strategy, which hasbeen traditionally adopted in practice and in most of the studies dealing withsequence-dependent set-up times, does not always give the best results.The release frequency and the shop workload appear critical to the selection ofthe strategy to adopt, strongly influencing system performance.