Flow Shop Scheduling with Partial Resource Flexibility

• DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.1040.0209
• Publication Date: 2004-05-24T08:34:36Z
• Authors: Richard L. Daniels; Joseph B. Mazzola; Dailun Shi
• Keywords: Material Flow

Resource flexibility refers to the ability dynamically reallocate units of resource from one stage a production process another in response shifting bottlenecks. Recent research has demonstrated that substantial improvements operational performance can be realized both serial- and parallel-machine environments through effective utilization flexibility. In these contexts was assumed exhibit complete This explores extent which benefits associated with achieved flow shop environment using partially flexible resource. Focusing on labor flexibility, we propose corresponding metrics for partial formulate model scheduling On basis computational experiments, explore properties pertaining relative amounts as well allocation it is distributed across workforce. The conclusions drawn this provide significant insight into management shops workforce crosstrained achieve Moreover, extend principles developed by Jordan Graves (1995) manufacturing plants environment, link novel way recent self-buffering lines.