"Complex Production Scheduling: case studies from various industries"
Marco Better and Fred Glover

Manufacturing companies often involve processes that exhibit high levels of complexity and operate in an environment where optimal production schedules can provide a source of competitive advantage. Features commonly shared by these companies include: (1) production costs represent a significant portion of total product price, (2) multiple products share manufacturing infrastructure and resources, and (3) production schedules are required on a timely basis. We have developed a sophisticated production scheduling solution approach that combines mathematical programming, metaheuristic optimization, and simulation to craft optimal or near-optimal production schedules that perform in a reliable and effective manner. In this paper, we describe our approach and provide examples and computational results in a variety of industry case studies.