Structural results and a solution for the product rate variation problem : A graph-theoretic approach

The product rate variation problem, to be called the PRVP, is to sequence different type units that minimizes the maximum value of a deviation function between ideal and actual rates. The PRVP is an important scheduling problem that arises on mixed-model assembly lines. A surge of research has examined very interesting methods for the PRVP. We believe, however, that several issues are still open with respect to this problem. In this study, we consider convex bipartite graphs, perfect matchings, permanents and balanced sequences. The ultimate objective of this study is to show that we can provide a more efficient and in-depth procedure with a graph theoretic approach in order to solve the PRVP. To achieve this goal, we propose formal alternative proofs for some of the results stated in the previous studies, and establish several new results.