  In response to the escalating need for sustainable manufacturing practices
amid fluctuating energy prices, this study introduces a novel dispatching rule
that integrates energy price and workload considerations with Material
Requirement Planning (MRP) to optimize production logistics and energy costs.
The dispatching rule effectively adjusts machine operational states, i.e. turn
the machine on or off, based on current energy prices and workload. By
developing a stochastic multi-item multi-stage job shop simulation model, this
research evaluates the performance of the dispatching rule through a
comprehensive full-factorial simulation. Findings indicate a significant
enhancement in shop floor decision-making through reduced costs. Moreover, the
analysis of the Pareto front reveals trade-offs between minimizing energy and
production logistics costs, aiding decision-makers in selecting optimal
configurations.
