Abstract: We consider a make-to-order production-distribution system with one manufacturer and multiple customers. A set of orders with deadlines needs to be processed by the manufacturer and delivered to the customers upon completion. The manufacturer adopts a commit-to-delivery business mode. The problem is to find a joint schedule of order processing at the manufacturer and order delivery from the manufacturer to the customers that minimize the total distribution cost with deadline constraint. We study the solvability of multiple cases of the problem by providing efficient algorithms.

Key words:  Scheduling, supply chain, transportation mode, commit-to-delivery