Job shop scheduling and production method and apparatus

摘要

A method for the efficient scheduling of a first plurality of jobs and the performance of the jobs on a second plurality of processing machines uses various heuristic rules in order to meet scheduling objectives. Initially, each job is scheduled on the machines without regard to the scheduling of any other job. Job scheduling conflicts are then identified and a priority index for each conflict is computed. For each job step involved in the highest priority conflict, a flexibility index is computed. Based on the flexibility index, the highest priority conflict is resolved by relaxing one or more steps of one or more jobs. If the conflicts have not been resolved at this stage, control returns to the step of identification of all remaining job scheduling conflicts. Upon resolution of all conflicts, an overall schedule of all jobs on all machines may be displayed. Additionally, the jobs are then performed on the machines based upon the final, conflict free schedule.