Operations Research in the American Thread Company

Operations research in The American Thread Company is centered in the production planning department. This department has advantages as base for operations because of its intimate contact with other phases of the company's operations. The modest size of the company allows easy and informal communication. Two production-scheduling schemes are described. The first involves the scheduling of many small orders to the finishing mill, where a purely arithmetic scheme is used. The second scheme is used to schedule the rate of production of grey yarn for items produced on a continuous basis. This scheme is algebraic. Both of these schemes have decreased inventories substantially.