Computer integrated manufacturing applications in an automotive factory

Abstract

System integration is critical to development and implementation of CIM (computer integrated manufacture). This paper outlines the elements of the CIM system implementation strategy and deals with the representation of CIM implementation stages in TO FAS; which is a car manufacturing factory. In TOFA?, a pilot CIM project has been completed with success and other projects are in the development phase.     

Selection of methods,techniques and tools for system analysis and for the integration of CIM-elements in existing manufacturing organizations

Abstract

Implementation of computer-aided and integrated manufacturing systems requires one to consider all areas of the company in order to ensure a homogeneous and continuous evolutionary system development. Therefore, planners of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems need a concept to come to a coherent selection of methods for those system development. In this paper a concept is introduced which allows an interdisciplinary team of system developers (engineers, industrial economists, personnel economists) a coherent choice of methods for system development. As examples, three methods applicable to the problem of CIM-implementation into organizations are evaluated.     

Total production control

The new requirements for enterprise flexibility, quality improvement, costs and throughput limes reduction cannot be achieved by using traditional approaches. While US and European industry developed the grand CIM, FMS, CAD/CAM and MRP II projects, Japan introduced just-in-time and lean production, not to demonstrate the possibilities of the new technology but to expose operational inefficiencies and waste in the manufacturing process. The main CIM effort was in the flexibility and productivity improvement, bin its implementation stressed above all the technical aspects of the factory integration and the most flexible production factor, people, remained in the background. The new technology must be implemented into the organizational framework that uses and develops the skills, knowledge and creativity of the human resources. People in the production process need a new kind of decision support in the rapidly changing business environment. A new concept, total production control (TPC), that is a reaction to the present manufacturing problems will be presented. TPC integrates many methods and tools for production system analysis and improvement, production system design and production planning and control. This concept emphasizes a preventive aspect of the problem solution in the production process and supports a production manager at the three time views: past (archive and statistical database); present (shopfloor data capture and production progress monitoring); and future (simulation and modelling tools).     

第四方物流企业作业承接不完全信息双边讨价还价分析

第四方物流(4PL)企业承接物流作业后要依靠第三方物流(3PL)企业来完成物流作业,因而4PL企业承接物流作业的价格决策会受到它与3PL企业交易情况的影响.本文利用不完全信息双边讨价还价博弈得出了4PL企业承接物流作业的价格,分析了价格的影响因素和4PL企业与生产企业达成交易的条件.通过对比4PL企业已知其与3PL企业交易情况和未知其与3PL企业交易情况时的报价,得出了在与生产企业交易过程中,4PL企业在前一情况下的报价高于后一情况下的报价的结论,并分析了产生这一结论的原因.     

Simple systems for computer-aided production management

Future production concepts where workshop employees responsibly carry through planning and scheduling tasks call for new principles ofcomputer-aided production management (CAPM). With the aid of a critical analysis ofdifferent planning and scheduling mechanisms it will first be laid down why the field of computer-aided production management is suited for a dialogue-oriented planning support based on simple models rather than for the objective of automation with the aid of refined optimization algorithms. Consequently, an alternative design is proposed. This is a prototypically realized concept aiming at computer-aided support of production management of production teams.     

Strategic monitoring of port authorities activities: Proposal of a multi-dimensional digital dashboard

Abstract

The consequence of port evolution is that port authorities (PA) around the world are modifying their nature and their role, acquiring more and more an active role in the governance of logistic systems and are often adopting managerial and entrepreneurial behaviours. This new role of PA requires the adoption of a complex approach to monitoring the performance of the single stakeholders and of the whole port. Existing studies on port performance consider only specific indicators of port performance such as operational and financial efficiency neglecting aspects like customer satisfaction, port security and port sustainability. This paper tries to fill this literature gap: (i) outlining an integrated multi-dimensional dashboard to monitor port performance in a strategic perspective; (ii) analysing the role of digital technology to support the PA in the implementation of the monitoring dashboard; (iii) defining the evolutionary stages of tools implementation in the strategic monitoring of PAs.     

An examination of the ISO 9001:2000 standard and its influence on the integration of management systems

Abstract

Analysis of the literature and examination of the various models of integration and testing in the field, have revealed five key issues relating to management system integration. This paper examines the recently published ISO 9001 : 2000 quality management system standard to see how it addresses these issues, under the headings of compatibility, scope and organizational culture. The examination reveals that while compatibility with the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards has been improved in some areas, a different approach and model of a management system has been used. The paper suggests that differences in the scope of the standards are also likely to give rise to different sub-cultures which will hinder integration, and scope and culture are more important than compatibility. This leads the authors to conclude that new models of integration should be based on an approach and definitions which can be used in any management system, as well as an integrated one. Models of an integrated management system should also emphasize the need for no significant differences in the scope of the integrated systems, and a strong culture which supports the main requirements of TQM.     

Enterprise systems and performance of future city logistics

Abstract

Future cities are driven by the developments in Information and Communication Technology to support the triple bottom line requirements of sustainability. Logistics will play a critical role in future cities due to the increasingly micro-dynamic nature of socio-economics of these cities and globalised production and consumption patterns. Enterprise systems (ES), the founding applications to automate and integrate different business processes, will be the key enablers for providing the necessary support required by the future city logistics. However, the implementation of ES and realisation of proposed benefits within the estimated time frame is challenging due to the huge resource requirements in terms of manpower, budget and time. This study takes the antecedent (critical success factors) approach for the implementation process to establish a success predictive model for the realisation of ES benefits. The partial least square regression has been used to test the model. Moreover, this study explores the impact of ES benefits on the logistics performance indicators to explore the synergies between them. This is fundamentally important because future city logistics will rely heavily on appropriately designed and implemented (enterprise) information systems.     

COMPUTER-INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING: A TAXONOMY OF INTEGRATION AND RESEARCH ISSUES

The past decade has seen an upsurgence in the number of manufacturing companies that are attempting to transform into computer-integrated enterprises. However, much of the computer-based integration efforts in these manufacturing organizations have been limited in scope and localized within certain areas of the organization (particularly, technology-intensive areas such as the shop floor). Such compartmentalized and myopic approaches to the development of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems undermine the ability of these systems to reach their fullest potential. CIM is much larger in scope and can impact an organization along various dimensions and at various levels. The fact that no completely integrated manufacturing enterprise has been developed to date can be attributed, in part, to a lack of understanding of the scope and implications of CIM. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, twofold. First, the paper presents a meta-schema (called TRIAD) for multidimensional and multilevel integration of a manufacturing system. Second, on the basis of the proposed meta-schema, the paper develops a taxonomical framework for defining key integration issues in CIM system design and discusses critical research needs that exist in this area. It is hoped that this paper will serve as a road map for research efforts that will enable the emergence of comprehensive CIM systems.     

A two-stage stochastic programming approach for identifying optimal postponement strategies in supply chains with uncertain demand

In the course of globalization, applying mass-customization strategies has led to a high diversity of variants in many economic sectors. Thus, customer demands are often less predictable, and handling increasing inventory stocks as well as avoiding shortfalls have become particularly important. All these complexity drivers result in higher supply chain risks. Postponement strategies have been proposed as a suitable approach to address these problems. Although the concept of postponement and its impact on the supply chain are theoretically well discussed, optimally configuring the entire production and distribution activities is still challenging. We present a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer linear programming model, which comprises an integrated production and distribution planning approach, and considers postponement concepts. In comparison to earlier approaches that examine postponement strategies, our model supports the decision maker under demand uncertainty and considers lead times, penalty costs for shortfalls, as well as inventory-keeping decisions over a tactical planning horizon. This allows an integrated investigation of both form and logistics postponement concepts. Moreover, we consider the decision maker’s risk attitude identifying non-dominated profitable and risk-averse strategies. We illustrate the benefits of the model by using a case study from the apparel industry, and present the results of a sensitivity analysis with respect to varying demand uncertainty and demand correlations as well as different preferences regarding risk aversion. Furthermore, we carry out performance and quality benchmarks and compare the results of a standard mixed-integer linear programming solver, a parallel nested Benders approach and a sample average approximation technique.     

Redistributed Manufacturing and the Impact of Big Data: A Consumer Goods Perspective

Abstract

Digitalization and the growth of big data promise greater customization as well as change in how manufacturing is distributed. Yet, challenges arise in applying these new approaches in consumer goods industries that often emphasize mass production and extended supply chains. We build a conceptual framework to explore whether big data combined with new manufacturing technologies can facilitate redistributed manufacturing (RDM). Through analysis of 24 consumer goods industry cases using primary and secondary data, we investigated evolving manufacturing configurations, their underlying drivers, the role of big data applications, and their impact on the redistribution of manufacturing. We find some applications of RDM concepts, although in other cases existing manufacturing configurations are leveraged for high volume consumer goods products through big data analytics and market segmentation. The analysis indicates that the framework put forward in the paper has broader value in organizing thinking about emerging interrelationships between big data and manufacturing.     

CIM implementation for job-shop environments

Abstract

Abstract. The small to medium-sized job-shop manufacturing industry can benefit most from the implementation of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) technology, to meet the increasing demand for high-quality and economically priced products. The injection mould making industry is a typical representative for this group, where a manufacturer would generally produce moulds which consist of parts that are standard to every mould type or very similar. Thus, manufacturing techniques, such as group technology (GT), and production planning and control (information) management systems could make significant contributions in improving the efficiency of design and production operations.

The objective of the project, presented in this paper, was the development of a GT-based classification and coding (C/C) system for injection mould parts especially for the design and process planning phases, and the development of a production planning and shop-floor control (SFC) information management system.

An extensive investigation was carried out on existing GT-based C/C systems. This investigation, followed by a thorough examination of many injection mould parts for determining geometric similarities, led to the development of part families (classes) required for GT implementation. An OPITZ-type GT system was developed, thereafter, for the C/C of the manufactured parts of the target company.

The production planning and control software that has been developed for the target company utilizes a relational data base management system. It consists of 13 application programs, which provide a tool of organizing information for efficient production planning and SFC. The programs are designed to cover all manufacturing operations of a job from the proposal to the final testing stage. Shop orders and dispatch lists are created using this software for effective and prioritized SFC. Shop status and job status reports are generated based on feedback information received through time card entries.     

Model-based potential analysis of the distribution logistics: a case study

Abstract

The design of its distribution logistics has a decisive influence on a company’s logistical costs and performance. They therefore make an essential contribution to corporate success. This article describes a method for analysing the potential of distribution logistics in terms of logistical costs and performance. In contrast to previous procedures of business process re-engineering, this method maps distribution logistics holistically under variable distribution structures. The article is focused on the approach and results of a case study in a multinational manufacturer of propulsion and automation technologies for machine construction and systems engineering. The developed method is distinguished by a high degree of practicality and applicability. It will contribute to a more efficient design of distribution logistics.     

Exact and approximate algorithms for the loop layout problem

Control parameters, such as order frequency, safety stock and safety time, are important tools to improve the logistic performance in material planning. In practice, the adjustment of control parameters appears to be very difficult. One of the reasons is the lack of relevant tactical control information: a simple, periodical and per-commodity integrated feedback of performance and process information often is not available to the logistic operator. Therefore, the material planner is offered a fairly limited overview and insight of the processes to be controlled. This problem has been investigated in several plants in the Netherlands. A solution to this problem is first to measure the performance, the frequency of process disturbances and the effect of the parameters on performance for all commodities involved. And second, to integrate this information and provide feedback to the responsible material planner. In this article a design for decision support is presented to integrate and give feedback of relevant tactical control information. Prototype information systems are now being tested in practice and in the laboratory. The expectation is that this type of decision support will help the operator to make more systematic and effective diagnoses.     

客户时间窗变化的物流配送干扰管理模型——基于行为的视角

针对客户时间窗变化而导致的物流配送难以顺利实施这一难题,运用干扰管理思想,以提高物流配送干扰管理决策过程的科学性为目标,结合行为科学中对人的行为感知的研究方法与运筹学中定量的研究手段,分析客户时间窗变化这类干扰事件对客户、物流配送运营商和配送业务员等受扰主体的影响,研究基于行为的扰动度量方法, 构建客户时间窗变化的字典序多目标干扰管理模型,并给出快速高效的求解方法。实例结果表明:本文方法比已有的全局重调度方法和局部重调度方法更实用--能够均衡各方的利益,获得扰动最小的调整方案。     

On the impact of collaborative strategies for goods delivery in city logistics

Abstract

City logistics refers to the process of total optimisation of the logistics and transport activities in urban areas while considering economic, environmental, social and safety aspects. This paper considers a collaborative scenario for the urban goods transport planning and management as a way to reduce transport costs, congestion and environmental impact of this activity. An approach from the Operations Management field, using mathematical modelling, for tactical and operational decision-making is proposed to discuss and compare both collaborative and non-collaborative scenarios. This approach is validated using real data taken from the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Results put in evidence the quantitative benefits that can be achieved when collaborative logistics operations are implemented, represented in both transportation costs and environmental impacts. Although these results might not be surprising (like in the field of supply chain management), the contribution of this paper is centred in the fact that the impacts of collaboration in city logistics have not yet been quantified until now. This allows an ‘ex ante’ evaluation of the benefits of collaborative goods transport in cities.     

物流产业系统微观主体的演化机理及稳定性研究

物流产业系统主要由宏观系统因素、微观系统因素、中观系统因素三大系统构成。对复杂经济系统的研究必须从分析个体的行为入手,把个体放在一个相互联系的经济系统中进行研究。因此本文以全新的视角从微观层面运用逻辑斯谛方程分析物流产业系统微观主体的演化机理及发展的稳定性。本文的研究成果对物流产业调整政策的制定具有一定的参考价值。     

The strategic analysis of logistics service sharing in an e-commerce platform

In e-commerce, the success of hybrid online platforms is well documented where the platform not only works as a retailer but also offers online marketplace services to sellers. Logistics service is one of the most expensive operations for e-commerce and plays a critical role in promoting online purchases. In most cases, the platform builds a self-supporting logistics service system to deliver its own products, and the seller outsources the logistics service to third-party logistics service providers (TPLPs). Recently, the e-commerce market has emerged with a new trend of business-to-business logistics service sharing—the platform shares its logistics service system with the seller. In this paper, we first analyze the strategic and economic impacts of logistics service sharing. Our analysis shows that whereas logistics service sharing will lead to a lose-win situation for the platform and the seller when the TPLP's logistics service level and the market potential are low, it will lead to a win-lose situation when the TPLP's logistics service level or the market potential is very high. Furthermore, a win-win situation can be achieved when the TPLP's logistics service level and the market potential are in the middle regions. Then, we examine the equilibrium mode by considering the strategic interactions between the platform and the seller. We find that when the TPLP's logistics service level and the market potential are relatively low, the equilibrium mode is No-Service-Sharing. As the TPLP's logistics service level, the market potential, or both increase, the equilibrium mode will evolve from No-Service-Sharing to Service-Sharing.     

Development of an integrated information management model: A case of textile industry

For past two decades many organisations have tried to implement integrated information management systems for better production management based on co-ordination of information and therefore activities of different departments. Although Enterprise Resource Planning systems have been in the market for the past decade, many industries find it difficult to implement such systems due to the amount of work involved in streamlining the documentation, customisation and of high costs reported in implementation. An attempt is made through this paper to propose an integrated model, which can be easily understood by production personnel, with specific emphasis on the textile sector.     

营销渠道成员行为的整合模型

合作、权力和冲突以及它们之间的关系历来为国外营销学者所关注。本文将着重介绍几个行为模型来加深对营销渠道系统管理的认识。合作、权力和冲突都是有助于加深理解营销渠道管理的概念,这三个概念和它们之间的关系为制定渠道管理策略和解决渠道中的问题提供了理论框架。本文首先通过对渠道中的合作、权力和冲突进行详细的阐述,进而推导出渠道成员整合的行为模型,在此基础上着手规划垂直渠道系统的营销策略。