Patent ID: 8379255

Claim:
A system for determining batch sizes for a print job, the system comprising: a computing device; and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises one or more programming instructions for: receiving a print job having a job size, receiving speed information for each of a plurality of document production devices in a production line, wherein the speed information for each document production device comprises a processing speed and a setup time, identifying a plurality of batches associated with the print job, wherein each batch has a batch size that is unequal to the batch sizes of the other batches in the plurality of batches, wherein a number of batches in the plurality of batches is equal to a number of document production devices in the plurality of document production devices, wherein a sum of the batch sizes associated with the plurality of batches equals the job size, performing a discrete event simulation to model a makespan for the print job in processing each of the plurality of batches on the plurality of document production devices using the speed information, and repeating the identifying and performing until a plurality of final batches is determined, each having a final batch size that is unequal to the final batch sizes of the other final batches in the plurality of final batches, wherein the final batches and final batch sizes minimize the makespan of the print job.