Optimal and Hierarchical Controls in Dynamic Stochastic Manufacturing Systems: A Survey

Most manufacturing systems are large and complex and operate in an uncertain environment. One approach to managing such systems is that of hierarchical decomposition. This paper reviews the research devoted to proving that a hierarchy based on the frequencies of occurrence of different types of events in the systems results in decisions that are asymptotically optimal as the rates of some events become large compared to those of others. The paper also reviews the research on stochastic optimal control problems associated with manufacturing systems, their dynamic programming equations, existence of solutions of these equations, and verification theorems of optimality for the systems. Manufacturing systems that are addressed include single machine systems, dynamic flowshops, and dynamic jobshops producing multiple products. These systems may also incorporate random production capacity and demands, and decisions such as production rates, capacity expansion, and promotional campaigns. Related computational results and areas of applications are also presented.