Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Optimal Production Schedule Choice

Ovundah King Wofuru-Nyenke

Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.  

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present a structured approach for selecting the optimal production schedule using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) with the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE). In modern manufacturing environments, production scheduling involves multiple conflicting objectives, and traditional single-objective optimization techniques are often inadequate for addressing these complexities. To overcome this limitation, the scheduling problem is formulated as a multi-criteria decision-making task, where several feasible production schedules (Schedule 1, Schedule 2, Schedule 3, Schedule 4 and Schedule 5) are evaluated simultaneously based on four (4) selected performance criteria namely: production cost, production time, product quality and resource utilization, with preference weights of 0.3, 0.25, 0.25 and 0.2 respectively. The results indicated that Schedule 2 is the best alternative because it has the highest total net flows of 0.325, followed by Schedule 1, which has total net flows of 0.10625. Next is Schedule 3, which has total net flows of 0.05625, followed by Schedule 4, having total net flows of -0.08125, and finally, Schedule 5, which is the worst ranking alternative, having total net flows of -0.3125. Therefore, PROMETHEE proved to be a viable multi-criteria decision-making tool for selecting the most suitable production schedule among the group of alternatives. This study is significant because it provides a procedure for aiding supply chain managers in selecting the best alternative among a group of similar alternatives using PROMETHEE.      

Keywords: Production Scheduling, Manufacturing, Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), PROMETHEE

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