A heuristic algorithm for agricultural machinery production scheduling

A heuristic algorithm is developed for solving scheduling problems in the machine workshop of an agricultural machinery plant. The scheduling algorithm uses heuristic methods at each stage of production to dispatch jobs. The algorithm considers scheduling constraints at the downstream weld, paint and assembly stages of the production process, and then decides the priority of each operation to be processed. A C++ program has been developed to implement the algorithm. The computerized algorithm was used to solve real life scheduling problems in the plant. Computational results show that the approach used in this research is useful and the algorithm developed is effective and efficient for smooth job-shop production and Work-in-process (WIP) reduction.