Abstract: A method for optimizing production scheduling in a manufacturing plant. The method includes providing a baseline model of the plant to obtain energy and production performance of each station in the plant. The method also includes providing a buffer control scheme that generates optimal buffer threshold values. The control scheme utilizes a genetic algorithm having first and second fitness functions each including a penalty for violating a production throughput constraint. Further, the method includes generating a final production schedule by utilizing a genetic algorithm having third and fourth fitness functions each having a penalty for violating an extreme buffer utilization policy. The genetic algorithm also includes fifth and sixth fitness functions that include a penalty for violating an empirical buffer utilization policy.