Objectives

By the end of the course, the students must be able to:

• Identify the relevant parameters that are influencing material flows in production lines.
• Quantitatively synthesize the influence of buffers on the performance of production lines.
• Compute optimal hedging stock policies.
• Understand the dynamics that drives the management of inventories.
• Examine the behaviour of manufacturing systems using a discrete-event simulator.

Contents

This course discusses quantitatively generic performance and reliability issues that affect the behaviour of production systems. In this context, we model and analyse how random perturbations in the material and information flows influence the production processes, and highlight the control actions that production managers can take to tackle these issues. Focusing on the specific needs of production managers, we review the necessary theoretical background on probability theory and queuing systems. In parallel to the considered theoretical framework, discrete-event simulations will be used to exemplify the obtained analytical findings.

References

Books (optional):

• Manufacturing Systems Engineering by Stanley B. Gershwin
• Factory Physics by W. J. Hopp and M. L. Spearman

Evaluation

First attempt

Exam:

Without exam (cf. terms)  

Evaluation:

- Written exam of 2 hours during the last session of the course (documentation not allowed, calculator allowed).

- Project work during the semester.

Retake

Exam:

Without exam (cf. terms)  

Evaluation:

- Written exam of 2 hours to be organized by the professor between August 21 and September 9, 2023 (documentation not allowed, calculator allowed).

- Project work during the semester remains achieved.