Abstract
This work deals with the well-known buffer allocation problem in short reliable production lines. The objective is to find the optimal buffer allocation (OBA) that minimizes the average work-in-process (WIP) inventory, subject to a minimum required throughput. The study leads to some insights concerning the evolution of the throughput and WIP as a function of the ordered buffer allocations. In the case of balanced lines, it is observed that the so-called self-similarity phenomenon prevails. It is also pointed out that the choice of the throughput level is critical for finding the OBA that minimizes the average WIP. Also a heuristic algorithm is proposed to find the OBA, which reduces the search space by over 50% compared to enumeration.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 185-197 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | International Journal of Production Economics |
| Volume | 70 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 21 2001 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics and Econometrics
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Cite this
Minimizing WIP inventory in reliable production lines. / Papadopoulos, H. T.; Vidalis, M. I.
In: International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 70, No. 2, 21.03.2001, p. 185-197.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Minimizing WIP inventory in reliable production lines
AU - Papadopoulos, H. T.
AU - Vidalis, M. I.
PY - 2001/3/21
Y1 - 2001/3/21
N2 - This work deals with the well-known buffer allocation problem in short reliable production lines. The objective is to find the optimal buffer allocation (OBA) that minimizes the average work-in-process (WIP) inventory, subject to a minimum required throughput. The study leads to some insights concerning the evolution of the throughput and WIP as a function of the ordered buffer allocations. In the case of balanced lines, it is observed that the so-called self-similarity phenomenon prevails. It is also pointed out that the choice of the throughput level is critical for finding the OBA that minimizes the average WIP. Also a heuristic algorithm is proposed to find the OBA, which reduces the search space by over 50% compared to enumeration.
AB - This work deals with the well-known buffer allocation problem in short reliable production lines. The objective is to find the optimal buffer allocation (OBA) that minimizes the average work-in-process (WIP) inventory, subject to a minimum required throughput. The study leads to some insights concerning the evolution of the throughput and WIP as a function of the ordered buffer allocations. In the case of balanced lines, it is observed that the so-called self-similarity phenomenon prevails. It is also pointed out that the choice of the throughput level is critical for finding the OBA that minimizes the average WIP. Also a heuristic algorithm is proposed to find the OBA, which reduces the search space by over 50% compared to enumeration.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035277752&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035277752&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0925-5273(00)00056-6
DO - 10.1016/S0925-5273(00)00056-6
M3 - Article
VL - 70
SP - 185
EP - 197
JO - International Journal of Production Economics
JF - International Journal of Production Economics
SN - 0925-5273
IS - 2
ER -