Concerning Workload Control and Order Release: The Pre-Shop Pool Sequencing Decision

Author(s)

Thuerer, Matthias ^[1] ; Land, Martin J. ^[2] ; Stevenson, Mark ^[3] ; Fredendall, Lawrence D. ^[4] ; Godinho Filho, Moacir ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] Jinan Univ, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong - Peoples R China

^[2] Univ Groningen, Fac Econ & Business, Dept Operat, NL-9700 AV Groningen - Netherlands

^[3] Univ Lancaster, Sch Management, Dept Management Sci, Lancaster LA1 4YX - England

^[4] Clemson Univ, Dept Management, Clemson, SC 29634 - USA

^[5] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Ind Engn, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT; v. 24, n. 7, p. 1179-1192, JUL 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 19

Abstract

Every production planning concept that incorporates controlled order release will initially withhold jobs from the shop floor and create a pre-shop pool. Order release is a key component of the Workload Control concept that aims to maintain work-in-process within limits while ensuring due dates are met. Order release includes two decisions: (i) a sequencing decision that establishes the order in which jobs are considered for release; and, (ii) a selection decision that determines the criteria for choosing jobs for release. While selection has received much research attention, sequencing has been largely neglected. Using simulation, this study uncovers the potential for performance improvement in the sequencing decision and improves our understanding of how order release methods should be designed. Although most prior studies apply time-oriented sequencing rules and load-oriented selection rules, analysis reveals that load balancing considerations should also be incorporated in the sequencing decision. But an exclusive focus on load balancing is shown to increase mean tardiness and, paradoxically, require high workloads. A new sequencing rule is developed that only balances loads when multiple orders become urgent. It avoids high mean tardiness and allows the shop to operate at a low workload level. At the same time, the percentage tardy is reduced by up to 50% compared to a purely time-oriented rule. The findings have implications not only for Workload Control but for any concept that features order release control, such as ConWIP and Drum-Buffer-Rope. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/10605-1 - Proposal of a Decision Support System based on Workload Control approach for production planning and control in small and medium companies
• Grantee: Matthias Thürer
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral