Network Control Technique for a Synchronous Material Supply for Assembly

Controlling the time synchronicity of supply processes for assembly requires a quantitative measure. An existing controlling instrument, the supply diagram, already provides an effective way of assessing the supply situation. It incorporates different key figures which allow for an evaluation of a company’s supply process coordination. However, it lacks a key figure for describing the level of time synchronicity. Therefore, a quantitative evaluation of actions to improve the time synchronicity in supply processes is not possible. Based on an existing approach of approximating the completion of full assembly orders, a key figure for describing the level of time synchronicity is developed in this article: the synchronicity factor. As this new key figure is dependent on the average number of components required for one assembly order for the regarded time period, a second measure, the relative synchronicity factor, accounts for this number and can thereby be used to compare different time periods. As the numerical calculation of the synchronicity factors is a complex problem, the possibility of applying a simple hill climbing algorithm to accurately determine the synchronicity factor for a certain supply situation is examined.

Production planning and control, supply chain management, supply diagram, time synchronicity

Increasingly demanding markets and reduced production depths force manufacturers of complex products to better coordinate supply processes for assembly. In this article a research project is presented which aims to develop a control procedure for companies to react on delivery date deviations in supply processes. Particularly, as companies act as part of a network, a reasonable behavior in that perspective is sought.

company networks, simulation, supply processes, supply chain management, cooperation