Integrated shelf-life rules for multi-level pharmaceutical tablets manufacturing processes

Michael Simonis and Stefan Nickel

International Journal of Production Research, 2025, vol. 63, issue 3, 1046-1066

Abstract: This paper discusses the multi-level capacitated lot-sizing problem with linked lot sizes and backorders (MLCLSP-L-B) considering deterministic product shelf-life applied to pharmaceutical tablets manufacturing processes. This paper's motivation, essential concepts, and conclusions for the pharmaceutical industry were already presented and discussed in the International Workshop on Lot-Sizing (IWLS), see Simonis and Nickel (2023a. International Workshop on Lot-Sizing-IWLS'2023, Vol. 13, 30–33). Material's shelf-life depends on the remaining shelf-life of issued ingredients in tablets manufacturing processes. This particular shelf-life behaviour is named integrated shelf-life rules. The MLCLSP-L-B is extended by integrated shelf-life rules (MLCLSP-L-B-SL). Moreover, an exact mathematical problem formulation is provided. First In-First Out (FIFO) and First Expire-First Out (FEFO) heuristics are developed for the MLCLSP-L-B. The MLCLSP-L-B-SL, FIFO, and FEFO heuristics are evaluated based on anonymised real-world data of five multi-level tablets manufacturing problem instances. Additionally, proposed solutions regarding manufacturing costs and shelf-life conflicts are compared. Finally, planning rules and managerial insights are derived for tablets manufacturing processes.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2024.2370510

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