Batch scheduling optimization in interprovincial cooperative limited

Abstract

The purpose of this project thesis is to optimize a set of production lines in a local company, which produces agricultural chemicals, in terms of balancing the workload requirements throughout the production season. The scope of it is limited to three production lines and dealing only with the herbicide products, excluding the insecticides. The aim was to manually balance the schedule, making a set of modifications in order to achieve a more even workload distribution in the lines. The start point is the current Master Production Schedule (MPS) from which the downsides on working hour’s distribution were checked for further improvement. The objective was achieved, substantially decreasing the oscillations on workforce demand and compressing the production without any blank week in-between. Therefore, the outcome of a new MPS, still meets the demand and also would allow more orders to be taken and produced at the end of the season. With this improvement and this new chance of taking in new orders, the company could have more income and satisfy more customers.