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...

The paper presents a simulation study that compares multi-period models for order release optimisation (Input/Output Control with fixed lead times and a clearing function model) with a traditional workload control-based order release mechanism (control of aggregate workload with periodic...