Production scheduling heuristics for frequent load-shedding scenarios : a knowledge engineering approach

Date
2020-11-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Most industrial machinery and equipment used by the South African manufacturing sector is powered by either a direct current or an alternating current electricity supply. With the recent frequent power cuts caused by load shedding, operations managers have a difficult time trying to satisfy demand. Power cuts are a supplier-related operational disturbance that leads to production halts, increased downtime, and a significant compromise in delivery due date conformance. The paper presents heuristic rules of thumb that can be applied during the process planning and scheduling of orders during cases of frequent load shedding to maintain high levels of system reliability and productivity. Different load shedding scenarios are characterised, and an appropriate strategy for production planning and scheduling is outlined for each scenario. A knowledge engineering approach is employed in the study, with expert opinions derived from surveys and the literature employed to generate the strategies. These strategies are validated through a simulation study conducted in a small manufacturing firm.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die meeste industriële masjinerie en toerusting wat in die Suid-Afrikaanse vervaardigingsektor gebruik word, word aangedryf deur 'n gelykstroom- of wisselstroomtoevoer. Met die onlangse gereelde kragonderbrekings wat veroorsaak word deur beurtkrag, is dit moeilik vir operasionele bestuurders om aan die vraag te voldoen. Kragonderbrekings is 'n bedryfsversteuring wat met die verskaffer verband hou, wat lei tot stilstand in die produksie, verhoogde stilstandtyd en 'n aansienlike kompromie ten opsigte van die afleweringsdatum. Die artikel bevat heuristiese reëls wat toegepas kan word tydens die beplanning en skedulering van bestellings tydens gevalle van gereelde beurtkrag om die stelsel se betroubaarheid en produktiwiteit te handhaaf. Verskillende scenario's vir beurtkrag word gekenmerk, en 'n gepaste strategie vir produksiebeplanning en -skedulering word vir elke scenario uiteengesit. ʼn Kennisingenieurswese-benadering word in die studie toegepas, met kundige opinies afgelei van opnames en die literatuur wat gebruik word om die strategieë te genereer. Hierdie strategieë word bekragtig deur middel van 'n simulasie-studie wat in 'n klein vervaardigingsonderneming gedoen is.
Description
CITATION: Dewa, M. T., Van Der Merwe, A. F. & Matope, S. 2020. Production scheduling heuristics for frequent load-shedding scenarios : a knowledge engineering approach. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 31(3):110-121, doi:10.7166/31-3-2422.
The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Electric power -- Interruptions, Power resources -- South Africa, Electric power distribution -- Heuristic programming
Citation
Dewa, M. T., Van Der Merwe, A. F. & Matope, S. 2020. Production scheduling heuristics for frequent load-shedding scenarios : a knowledge engineering approach. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 31(3):110-121, doi:10.7166/31-3-2422