A Due Date Assignment Algorithm For Multiproduct Manufacturing Facilities

The order acceptance process is an important interface between a manufacturer and its customers. This paper considers a complex manufacturing facility, capable of simultaneously producing a large variety of products, e.g., printed wiring boards for telecommunications and electronic systems. A requested due date is submitted with each customer order. A batch of orders is accumulated by the manufacturer for a certain period, e.g., one week or one day. For each order, production control must either confirm the requested due date or propose an alternate due date.