Title: Tracking production rate of constant work-in-process controlled job shop

Authors: Mohammad D. Al-Tahat, Issam S. Jalham

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan. ' Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan

Abstract: A multiproduct class, multiworkstation Constant Work-In-Process (CONWIP) controlled job shop is formulated and analysed by applying the Markovian network model, in such a way that yields a feasible level of CONWIP. A new approach for analysing the job shop network model was presented and routing probability matrix and model solutions were derived and presented. Consequently the job shop – as a single unit – is formulated as (M/M/1: GD/∞/∞) queue and solved in such a way that matches production capacity of the shop floor with the outside customer demand under CONWIP production scheme. Numerical example is presented to illustrate the computations of different model parameters. It is concluded that the developed analytical approach, in this study, realised our objectives of achieving a good trade-off between customer demand and CONWIP level in the CONWIP controlled production environment that uses a hybrid push/pull production authorisation policy.

Keywords: constant work-in-process; CONWIP job shops; pull production systems; shop floor control; material control; production rate tracking; routing probability matrix; customer demand.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISM.2008.016619

International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, 2008 Vol.4 No.2, pp.230 - 245

Published online: 11 Jan 2008 *

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