A three-stage load balancing model in a manufacturing company

We present a three-stage model aimed at balancing the production system of a company manufacturing pants.The company is characterized by having is main force-spot in the ability of the workmen at making a determinate task within the production system. In particular, the human factor and the random events are really crucial for the company in order to be competitive: the former because of the capability of people at making a specific work, the latter because of the possibility that a workman, for unpredictable reasons, can be absent and thus the current distribution of the work might result not well balanced. This means that, at any time, it might be necessary to re-balance the production system, taking into account not only the capabilities of people, but also the absence of some workmen and the need to substitute them.This problem has been treated by a three-stage optimization model, involving linear programming and open-shop scheduling.