Case study: improving industrial competitiveness: a TSP approach

This paper describes a case study in a chemical company in which management was concerned with low productivity and the inability to keep pace with demand. A description of the company and an assessment of its competitiveness are outlined. To improve productivity and to help management solve the firm’s production scheduling problem, a proposal was developed based on the travelling salesman problem with adjustments for earliness and lateness costs over due dates of the orders. Management involvement is discussed.