Maximizing throughput by evaluating critical utiliza,+ion paths

Recently the relationship between batch struct:u-e, bottleneck machine and maximum th, oaghpi~t has been explore0 for serial, convergent and divergent process configuration~ consisting of two machines and d,.rre processes. In three of the seven possible configurations a multiple batch structure maximizes time-constrained tt-_:oughput. The O,-;qciple of scheduling a bottleneck first appears to be msufKcient to phi.fin optimal schedules, since it typically leads to a singlo batch schedule on the bottleneck. Critical utilization paths provide a convenient vehicle to evaluate multiple batch structures b~ means of integer programming. Also the quality of existing heuristic procedures can be evaivated in this way.