Optimizing the production scheduling of fruit juice beverages using mixed integer programming models

Abstract

This study considers a production lot-sizing and scheduling problem of non-alcoholic fruit juice beverages. The problem is characterized by a multi-period planning horizon, a production process with different machines, capacity constraints and setup times independent from the production sequence, as well as special conditions regarding required machines clean-in-place (CIP) within production time periods. To deal with this problem, we propose a solution approach based on mathematical programming and using optimization software. The models are modifications of mixed integer programming models known in the lot sizing and scheduling literature. However, instead of considering multiple parallel machines, the proposed models explore other possible configurations of machines to properly represent the production processes involved in producing fruit beverages. The proposed approach is validated by a study carried out in a fruit juice company located in the interior of Sao Paulo State, Brazil, in which the solutions obtained by the models were tested and analyzed in real situations at the company. The results show that the approach is potentially good for practical applications.

Keywords:
Non-alcoholic fruit juice beverage industry; Production planning; Mixed integer programming; Lot sizing and scheduling problem