Analysis of the effect of customer prioritization on the production efficiency of a cardboard company

This article examines how prioritizing orders from major customers in the production of corrugated cardboard can negatively impact a company's operational efficiency. By modifying the previously established schedule to meet these orders, deviations in the planning strategy are generated, which reduces the efficiency in the use of plant resources. To demonstrate this impact, production planning is simulated using an approach based on priority rules and compared with the company's current method, which utilizes scheduling software that prioritizes orders with shorter delivery times, resulting in deviations from the established plan. The simulation carried out with 189 orders totaling 4,991,667 units shows that this prioritization alters the initial plan, interrupts the production flow due to external interventions, and decreases overall efficiency. The results show an increase in production time from 5.19 to 5.67 days, a reduction in efficiency from 84% to 77%, and an increase in average delay from 2.56 to 3.3 days.