Optimally loading clocked tow trains for JIT-supply of mixed-model assembly lines

Simon Emde (), Malte Fliedner () and Nils Boysen ()
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Simon Emde: School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Malte Fliedner: School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Nils Boysen: School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

No 10/2009, Jena Research Papers in Business and Economics - Working and Discussion Papers (Expired!) from Friedrich Schiller University Jena, School of Economics and Business Administration

Abstract: In today's mixed-model assembly production, there are two recent trends in particular, namely increasing vertical integration and the proliferation of product variety, which more and more shift focus to an efficient just-in-time part supply. In this context, many automobile manufacturers set up decentralized logistics areas referred to as "supermarkets". Here, small tow trains are loaded with parts and travel across the shop floor on specific routes to make frequent small-lot deliveries which are needed by the stations of the line. This paper investigates the loading problem of clocked tow trains, which aims at minimizing inventory near the line while avoiding material shortages given the limited capacity of tow trains. An exact solution procedure with polynomial runtime is presented and interdependencies with production planning, i.e., the sequencing problem of product models launched down the line, are investigated.

Keywords: Mixed model assembly lines; Just-in-Time; Clocked Tow Trains; In-Process Inventory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Published in: IIE Transactions 44/2 (2012), 121-135.

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jen:jenjbe:2009-10

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