System and method for collaborative batch aggregation and scheduling

Abstract

A computer-based system ( ) for aggregating and scheduling product batches ( ) includes a batch aggregation engine ( ) that allocates one or more product demands ( ) to one or more product batches ( ) having suggested sizes and suggested starting times. The batch aggregation engine ( ) communicates to a scheduling engine ( ) the suggested batch sizes, the suggested starting times, and feedback ( ) relating to the suggested sizes and suggested starting times to assist the scheduling engine ( ) in scheduling a start time for each product batch ( ). The system ( ) may also include a scheduling engine ( ) coupled to the batch aggregation engine ( ) that receives the suggested sizes, suggested starting times, and feedback ( ) from the batch aggregation engine ( ). The scheduling engine ( ) schedules a starting time for one or more of the batches ( ) according to the suggested sizes, suggested starting times, and feedback ( ) received from the batch aggregation engine ( ). The scheduling engine ( ) also communicates the scheduled starting times and feedback ( ) relating to the scheduled starting times to the batch aggregation engine ( ) to assist the batch aggregation engine ( ) in allocating the demands ( ) to the batches ( ). The batch aggregation engine ( ) and the scheduling engine ( ) may communicate their respective outputs ( ) to each other in an iterative cycle until they have collaboratively reached a sufficiently optimal batch aggregation and scheduling solution or until a predetermined number of iterations has been reached.