Allocation of operations to work centers is a key management task in modern production systems. Its relevance stems from the need to optimize the use of limited resources to achieve high efficiency and productivity. However, the problem is complicated by the combinatorial complexity associated with the discrete nature of operations and the need to consider multiple factors, including resource constraints, time constraints, and process requirements. This requires specialized approaches to find efficient solutions. This paper is devoted to analyzing such approaches. The paper considers actual problems of optimization of operations distribution to work centers in modern production systems. Particular attention is paid to the problems of minimizing variable costs associated with the changeover of equipment and increasing the overall efficiency of production processes. The paper considers the limitations of classical optimization methods such as linear programming, a review of modern approaches, including combinatorial algorithms, methods of the theory of schedules. Special attention is paid to heuristic algorithms, such as genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, and ant algorithms, which allow us to find acceptable solutions in a short time. The paper also discusses the key factors affecting the scheduling, such as resource constraints, time constraints, and technological requirements. Considering the conditions of the production problem posed in the paper problem and based on analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods of its solution, as an alternative it is proposed and substantiated the use of multi-agent approach with the application of heuristic algorithms for the distribution of work operations at production enterprises.