MAK€ - A system for modelling, optimising, and analyzing production in small and medium enterprises

Abstract

The paper presents a performance prediction and optimisation tool MAK€that allows users to model enterprises in a visually rich and intuitive way. The tool automatically generates a scheduling model describing all choices that users can do when optimising production. This model then goes to the Optimiser Module that generates schedules optimising on-time-in-full performance criterion while meeting the constraints of the firm and the customer demand. Finally, the Performance Manager Module shows the decision maker what is the best possible outcome for the firm given the inputs from the Enterprise Modeller. The Optimiser Module, which is the main topic of this paper, is implemented using constraint-based solving techniques with specific search heuristics for this type of problems. It demonstrates practical applicability of constraint-based scheduling - one of the killer application areas of constraint programming, a technology originated from AI research. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.