On Reworks in a Serial Process with Flexible Windows of Time

Abstract

Consider the planning of a multi-task serial production process where the prior task yields are continuous values determined from previous production data. Applying these values in the planning stage for the processing of discrete units does not necessarily guarantee a discrete input-output value for each task, thereby resulting in an approximate solution. Supposing the priors are conservative estimates, this research provides two simple models to determine these input–output values by discretizing the units at each task, thereby establishing a lower bound on the discrete output quantity (throughput). Both single- and multi-period models are presented where the multi-period model allows for reworks from previous time periods.