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Applying Operations Research to Scheduling Work Cells in a Manufacturing Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Steffen Heider

    (University Center for Health Sciences at Klinikum Augsburg (UNIKA-T), Chair of Healthcare Operations/Health Information Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Jakob Heins

    (University Center for Health Sciences at Klinikum Augsburg (UNIKA-T), Chair of Healthcare Operations/Health Information Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany)

  • John J. Kanet

    (Department of Management Information Systems, Operations Management and Decision Sciences, University of Dayton School of Business, Dayton, Ohio 45469)

Abstract

Constant competition in the manufacturing sector forces companies to continually decrease their costs while satisfying customer needs. These companies could be more efficient and achieve better results if they automated many of the tasks that they now schedule manually. In this paper, we describe how one department of Johnson Electric, a leading manufacturer of electromechanical components, automated and improved its scheduling process through the application of operations research. We created an easy-to-use Excel Solver-based tool for scheduling self-directed work cells. This tool does not require a user to have any knowledge of mathematical programming, because it automatically adds the objective function and constraints in the background. Our results show that the time required to create schedules decreases drastically and that the quality of the schedules improves significantly depending on the chosen objective function. We illustrate how fundamental knowledge of single-machine scheduling can add significant practical value in manufacturing. Moreover, our work shows that advances in computer interface development tools (e.g., Visual Basic for Applications) are making it possible to efficiently implement operations research concepts.

Suggested Citation

  • Steffen Heider & Jakob Heins & John J. Kanet, 2018. "Applying Operations Research to Scheduling Work Cells in a Manufacturing Environment," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 48(6), pages 556-565, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:48:y:2018:i:6:p:556-565
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.2018.0965
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. JosÉ Figueira & Salvatore Greco & Matthias Ehrogott, 2005. "Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis: State of the Art Surveys," International Series in Operations Research and Management Science, Springer, number 978-0-387-23081-8, April.
    2. Koulamas, Christos, 2010. "The single-machine total tardiness scheduling problem: Review and extensions," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 202(1), pages 1-7, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthew D. Bailey & Lucas A. Waddell, 2020. "Daily Tutor Scheduling Support at Hopeful Journeys Educational Center," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 50(5), pages 287-297, September.
    2. Jakob Heins & Jan Schoenfelder & Steffen Heider & Axel R. Heller & Jens O. Brunner, 2022. "A Scalable Forecasting Framework to Predict COVID-19 Hospital Bed Occupancy," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 52(6), pages 508-523, November.

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