Scheduling Solutions for the Paper Industry

Pinar Keskinocak, Frederick Wu, Richard Goodwin, Sesh Murthy, Rama Akkiraju, Santhosh Kumaran, Annap Derebail

Operations Research · 2002 · Volume 50 · Issue 2

Abstract

This paper describes a decision support system for paper production scheduling. This is the first system to provide an integrated solution to paper production scheduling and to consider interactions between different stages of the manufacturing and distribution process. Using a multicriteria optimization approach, the system generates multiple enterprisewide schedules to reveal tradeoffs between the multiple, often competing, objectives. The large portfolio of algorithms used by the system is embedded in an agent-based decision support framework, called Asynchronous Team (A-Team). Successful implementations of the system in several paper mills in North America have resulted in significant savings and improved customer satisfaction.

Keywords

Production/scheduling: multiple machine, cutting stock/firm, Decision analysis: multiple criteria, Computers/computer science: agents

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