Title: A software application for E-Kanban-based WIP control in the aluminium industry

Authors: Tarek Al-Hawari; Faisal Aqlan

Addresses: Industrial Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan. ' Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York, 13902, USA

Abstract: In this paper, a software application for an E-Kanban inventory control system is developed to track work-in-process (WIP) inventory and finished goods in an aluminium factory. The current paper work system is replaced with an E-Kanban system that will minimise the errors prone paper forms as well as data entry requirements. Results show that manufacturing lead time and WIP have been reduced by an average of 88% and 50%, respectively. Accountability measure has been built into the system to identify the errors. Reports about any order can be generated and managers can make decisions based on real-time information.

Keywords: software; modelling; e-kanban; electronic kanban; WIP control; aluminium industry; inventory control; work-in-process; manufacturing lead times.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMOM.2012.046336

International Journal of Modelling in Operations Management, 2012 Vol.2 No.2, pp.119 - 137

Published online: 21 Aug 2014 *

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