3.1 Step 1: calculating and assigning the required machines

Applying Eq. (1) to determine the number of machines of type (qm) needed to satisfy the capacity restrictions, the values presented in Table 3 are obtained.

Comparing these results with the actual values of the number of machines of a given type present in the plant, we get that they are equal for almost all the values of m, except in the following two cases:


Case (a) explains in some way why machine 3 punching machine has become a bottleneck in the plant when "accessory"-type products are made. Maintain, in this study use will be made of the current excess capacity produced by the two type 15 machines (connector welder) reflected in case (b), assigning products to both machines.

Applying the proposed assignment procedure of Figure 2, we get the assignment of machines (i) to the (m) machine types and of products (j), which are presented in Table 4, where the fact that machine 12 will function as a "virtual machine" in which two machines will operate simultaneously is pointed out.
