Enhancing socioeconomic sustainability in glass wall panel manufacturing: An integrated production planning approach

Abstract

While conventional production planning approaches prioritize short-term efficiency and economic gains, the sustainability development objectives emphasize a holistic perspective, integrating eco-friendly practices, social responsibility, and economic viability. Nevertheless, the existing literature overlooks a gap in understanding the role of socio-economic factors in labor-intensive production processes. In this regard, this research aims at investigating the impact of social factors, such as labor skill level and experience, on production planning, with a specific focus on glass wall panel manufacturing. The research integrates sustainability socioeconomics, as embodied by an empirically developed labor learning curve, with the MINLP (Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programming) scheduling model. The results show that the integrated socio-economic scheduling approach outperforms traditional scheduling approach, reducing idle time up to 43% and promoting more balanced production distribution. Despite slightly higher upfront production costs, the integrated model offers long-term cost savings through reduced idle time and overtime, making it a viable option for companies seeking to improve productivity and worker satisfaction. The implementation of this work is recommended to maintain a sustainable, safe, and healthy work environment while also considering long-term economic benefits rather than short-term profits.