Assessment and Optimization of the serviceability

• Applicant: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Gisela Lanza
• Subject Area: Production Systems, Operations Management, Quality Management and Factory Planning
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 251990403

Integrated product services and technical services (such as maintenance services) have a great contribution to earnings of machine tool builders. However, the actual machine failures and associated costs can be predicted only with great uncertainty in the bidding phase. In addition, the load dependent failure behavior of machines and equipment in cost studies is often neglected. Manufacturer of complex machines and systems therefore face a high risk when they agree to long term warranties. A strategic decision support system for robust service networks, which take into account the uncertainties given, however has enormous potential.Essential feature of this proposal is therefore to optimize the service capacity through strategic adjustment of the service network, i.e. the number of employees, location of sites and routes depending on the type and number of customers components and their failure characteristics. Ultimately generic guidelines regarding the rolling review of the configuration of the service network are derived as a function of error types of components in the field. In doing so, an answer to the open research question of the optimal frequency of migrating a network is provided in the project for the special case of a service network.In order to assess the serviceability the approach forecasts the technical reliability to determine a set of service dates (replacement, repairing or machine caring). Further on, the approach develops and simulates the maintenance activities and can find the cost optimal personnel assignment, the best service locations and the best routes for the network taking into account the risks involved.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants