Method and system for performing statistical throughput control in a print shop

A method of determining a probability of a set of print jobs being completed within a shift period, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a computing device, a schedule associated with a set of print jobs, wherein the schedule comprises:
• a sequence in which the set of print jobs is to be processed,
• a mean processing time associated with each print job in the set, and
• a standard deviation of a processing time associated with each print job in the set;
• determining, by the computing device, a first probability that one or more print devices in a print shop will complete processing the set of print jobs within a time period if the print shop is a first number of print jobs behind schedule at a start time of the print job;
• determining, by the computing device, a second probability that one or more print devices in the print shop will complete processing the set of print jobs within the time period if the print shop is a second number of print jobs ahead of schedule at the start time of the print job;
• determining, by the computing device, a third probability that one or more print devices in the print shop will complete processing the set of print jobs within the time period if the print shop is on schedule at the start time of the print job;
• and
• displaying the first, second and third probabilities associated with each of the one or more print jobs on a display device.

A system of determining a probability of a set of print jobs being completed within a time period, the system comprising:

• a computing device;
• and
• a computer readable storage medium in communication with the computing device, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises one or more programming instructions for:
• receiving a schedule associated with a set of print jobs, wherein the schedule comprises:
• a sequence in which the set of print jobs is to be processed,
• a mean processing time associated with each print job in the set, and
• a standard deviation of a processing time associated with each print job in the set, and
• determining a probability that a print shop will complete processing of the set of print jobs within a time period based on the mean processing time and standard deviation associated with each of the print jobs in the set that has not been processed, and
• causing the probability to be displayed on a display device.