An efficient network-based formulation for sequence dependent setup scheduling on parallel identical machines

This paper compares the efficacy of a newly developed network-based mixed-integer programming (MIP) formulation with three existing formulations for the sequence dependent setup scheduling problem with earliness/tardiness penalties. This research shows that the new model is more efficient in terms of computation time for larger multi-machine problems than the existing formulations of these problems. The mixed-integer nature of the formulation allows companies to solve this class of problems with any one of many commonly available integer programming software packages. The presented MIP formulation provides a unique and useful method of conceptualizing and modeling a practical, yet difficult, problem within industry.