Regression-based due date assignment rules for improved assembly shop performance

Many simulation studies have evaluated sequencing rules and due date assignment methods for scheduling job shops. More recently researchers have studied multistage, or assembly, shops. Typically, due dates have been set by using a fixed multiple of the critical path length. This paper evaluates the effects on shop performance due to using a regression-based approach for setting due dates. The findings show that marked improvement in the performance of dispatching rules can occur when the proposed due date setting procedure is used.