Optimal Two Stage Flow Shop Scheduling to Minimize the Rental Cost including Job Block Criteria, Set Up Times and Processing Times Associated with Probabilities

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to study the two stage flow shop scheduling problem in which the processing time and independent set up times of the jobs are associated with probabilities to minimize the rental cost under restrictive rental policy including equivalent job-block criteria. The study gives an optimal schedule rule in order to minimize the rental cost of machines through heuristic approach. The proposed method is very simple and easy to understand and also, provide an important tool for decision makers. To make the method effective and justified a computer program followed by a numerical illustration is given.