Modeling of scheduling batch processor in discrete parts manufacturing

Abstract

Processing using batch processors (BPs) is common in many manufacturing environments. Generally in a manufacturing environment, BPs are bottleneck operations due to their longer processing time. Batch processing also involves many complexities like compatibility of jobs that can be processed, sizes of different jobs, capacity constraint of the processor, and so on. Considering all these factors, proper scheduling of BPs is important. This chapter focuses on scheduling of BPs in three real life applications, namely, automobile gear manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, and steel casting industries. Integer programming models are formulated for the problems under consideration. These models will help the decision makers to understand the problems better and hence work toward appropriate solutions for the problems.