The purpose of this paper is twofold: First, it aims at providing a link between order release mechanisms based on the workload control concept on the one hand and models for aggregate order release planning that optimize the aggregate material flow through a production unit on the other hand....

We consider the problem of planning future order releases in hierarchical production planning and control systems. An established research direction is the clearing function concept: The planned material flow through a production unit is modeled by inventory balance equations for WIP and final...