SCHEDULING AND SEQUENCING OF RUBBER COMPOUNDS ON BANBURY MIXERS IN A TYRE COMPANY

Scheduling and sequencing compounds on banbury mixers is a daily produ ction planning function in a tyre company. The current scheduling proc edures are based on experience. A number of factors, such as capacity, cost, time, speed, set-up of mixers, compound changeovers, density an d demand of compound, have to be considered during planning. In this p aper, we propose a two-stage approach to this problem. The approach ca n be easily computerised to aid the personnel in the planning function . An example, considering actual data obtained from the company, is us ed to illustrate the approach. The current scheduling practice by comp any personnel, as inferred from past record, is also reported.