Sustainable production scheduling: insights from real-life applications

Abstract

This study presents an in-depth exploration of sustainable production scheduling within manufacturing systems, focussing on the integration of sustainable objectives and their practical applications. A thorough literature review of 128 articles, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, is complemented by 11 interviews conducted in manufacturing firms. The research identifies a predominant focus on economic and environmental objectives in sustainable scheduling, while the inclusion of social aspects is emerging but remains underdeveloped. Notably, the study highlights a significant gap in real-world applications and a need for empirical studies. It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive sustainability objectives and robust methodologies for practical applications. The goal is to close the gap between theoretical advances and actual implementation of sustainable production scheduling, calling for a concerted effort to produce comprehensive, practical and innovative solutions in this area. © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.