Development of a model for the quantitative description and calculation of logistic cause effect relationships in different assembly organization forms

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Matthias Schmidt
• Subject Area: Production Systems, Operations Management, Quality Management and Factory Planning
• Term: from 2016 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 286185637

Industrial enterprises are currently facing an environment of high competitive pressure. The logistical performance and in particular the schedule reliability of a production system is still a major competitive factor in order to achieve a solid position in the market. Many companies still face problems to meet their requirements with regard to their targets in logistical performance. The reasons lie within the complex and manifold interdependencies, so that effects of logistical measures cannot be evaluated by companies precisely. Therefore, companies need adequate tools to evaluate the effect of logistical measures quantitatively for selecting optimal logistic measures.Describing logistical interdependencies by the use of so called logistical models provide a transparent and user-friendly way for designing and controlling logistical processes. Influencing factors are systematically structured and their impact on key performance indicators such as schedule reliability is described in terms of quantitative, mathematical equations. By applying these models the user is able to derive the optimal measure for improving key performance indicators of his company. Furthermore, the acquired knowledge by using logistical models can be applied to improve designing and controlling logistical processes. Based on logistical models it is possible to estimate the effect of measures on key performance indicators like the schedule reliability before implementing them.Especially assembly processes as the last element of supply chains are of high importance regarding the logistical performance of a whole company. Many process disruptions in the supply processes influence the logistical performance of the assembly process significantly. Beside the relevance of assembly processes for the logistical performance of the supply chain assembly processes have a high percentage share of unit costs. Hence, effective assembly processes have great effects on the profitability of companies.Therefore, the target of the applied research project is to develop a quantitative impact model to describe the cause effect relationship between logistical key performance indicators in assembly areas with different organisation forms. The input for the model is e.g. the organisation form of the assembly area, the amount of assembly components, or the lateness distribution of the upstream processes. Applying that model companies are now able to calculate the effect of logistical measures (e.g. an improved punctuality of supply processes) on key performance indicators such as the schedule reliability or the WIP of the assembly area.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Nyhuis