Patent ID: 8615416

Claim:
A production planning method comprising: predicting, by a computer, a first yield for a product during a first time period and a second yield for said product during a second time period, wherein said first time period is earlier than said second time period; running, by said computer, a production planning program to develop a first plan for producing said product; evaluating, by said computer, said first plan to determine if said first plan comprises producing a predetermined quantity of said product in said first time period, when said predetermined quantity is to be consumed during said second time period; if said first plan comprises producing said predetermined quantity in said first time period, adding, by said computer, a constraint and an additional decision variable into said production planning program; and re-running, by said computer, said production planning program with said constraint and said additional decision variable to develop a second plan for producing said product, said constraint and said additional decision variable ensuring that, in said second plan, said predetermined quantity of said product is allowed to be produced earlier than said second time period, but only with said second yield.