Scheduling Algorithm with Simultaneous Determination of the Batch Sizes on the Example of 3D Printing System

The article deals with the subject of production scheduling in 3D printing systems. In the era of incremental technologies gaining in popularity, the creation of printer farms, it becomes very important to effectively use such systems in terms of throughput, timely execution of orders, selection of staff with the right number of appropriate competences. 3D printing systems are a specific subgroup of production systems with certain features, limitations, and work organization methods. Thus, the general characteristics of such systems are presented, and the most important features of the model from the point of view of effective task planning are identified. Due to the obligatory participation of human resources and clear disproportions in the length of the duration of individual operations in subsequent stages of the process, the model includes the issue of a varied working time calendar for individual groups of resources. It was proposed that the printing system should work in three shifts and the operators in one shift. An algorithm for creating packages was proposed, in which the batch size is determined directly at the scheduling stage, enabling the system to work in such conditions with the best possible use of resources - 3D printers. The description of the algorithm is illustrated with an example in which the advantages of the system operation are shown on the basis of a schedule prepared using the developed algorithm and a typical way in which the printers work with the maximum filling of the print area.