Title: Throughput and inventory estimation of a pull-based supply system

Authors: Jishnu Hazra, Paul Schweitzer, Avi Seidmann

Addresses: Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore 560 076, India. ' University of Rochester, NY 14627, USA. ' University of Rochester, NY 14627, USA '

Abstract: We analyse an assembly system fed by components produced by suppliers and operating under a pull system with random processing times. Under certain assumptions, we present a performance evaluation algorithm which is based on physical decomposition of the network and use of an aggregation/disaggregation algorithm. We consider two important performance measures: system throughput and work-in-process inventory. Performance evaluation of these systems is difficult because of the mating of parts and a kanban-like operating mechanism. Our algorithm was tested using simulation and found to be accurate.

Keywords: kanban; pull systems; assembly networks; CONWIP; performance evaluation; performance measurement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2003.003705

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2003 Vol.5 No.5/6, pp.492 - 506

Published online: 02 Dec 2003 *

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