Optimum Product Mix Management under Multiple Batch Production Utilising a Computer Simulation Model
| Date | 01 May 1989 |
| Published date | 01 May 1989 |
| Pages | 23-27 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02635578910134619 |
| Author | Lalith Goonatilake |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
OPTIMUM PRODUCT MIX
MANAGEMENT UNDER MULTIPLE
BATCH PRODUCTION USING A
COMPUTER SIMULATION MODEL
by Lalith
Goonatilake
University of
Kelaniya,
Sri
Lanka
In manufacturing industry, multiple batch production situations pose complex functional
management problems. Unlike flow (or mass) production situations, in multiple batch
production the manufacturing plant is geared to produce a diverse array of products. The
demand for each item is repeated from time to time, but is insufficient to allow its continuous
production or to allocate machines exclusively for the product. The sequence of machining
operations varies from product to product and hence the machines cannot be laid out in any
sequence since there is no one unique sequence. Therefore, the machines are often grouped
together to form a work centre, to obtain the advantage of specialist supervision and to
facilitate routeing of work from one operation to the other. The products, although frequently
adapted to suit particular customers' requirements, are basically designed to meet a market
rather than for individual customers. Where possible the products are designed with a view
to standardise components for use on more than one product, which enables components
to be "batched" for manufacture in larger quantities than would otherwise be possible.
Figure 1 shows a typical product flow pattern in
a multiple batch production situation having nine
machining centres. The three products, A, B, and
C have different machining sequences and
decisions have to be made continually as to which
batch shall be issued to each group of machines
next. Work to be processed on a particular
machine arrives from many previous operations in
a random way. Batches frequently spend more
time queuing at work centres waiting to be loaded
than being processed. The utilisation of the
machines and work centre capacities would be low
if such queues did not exist. Further, individual
attention is required on completion of each
operation to route the work to the next operation.
Production planning and control under multiple batch
production situations is a complex task, and the
inability to comprehend this complexity has been
identified[1] as a major factor responsible for indust-
rial management failures particularly in developing
countries. Further, in large scale multiple batch
production plants, there would be a large number
of machining centres and a diverse array of products.
In such situations, there would be an infinite number
of alternative sequences to be considered in schedul-
ing work, and the ultimate choice selected through
manual techniques may not be the optimum.
Computers are increasingly being used[2] for such
applications and the wide use of micro computers
has simplified much of the production-scheduling
work." Such computerisation efforts have shown
savings in time[3] and also generated much more
production flexibility. In addition, the advent of
Computer Aided Production Management (CAPM)
systems has resulted in the development and
application of simulation models[4, 5] for production-
planning work as well as for management training.
IMDS
Number 5
1989
23
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