METHODOLOGY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF VARIABLE THROUGHPUT PRODUCTION PROCESSES

In order to provide more than an intuitive approach to decision making when faced with complex multivariable production processes such as those encountered in shipyards, a methodology for the analysis of such processes is sought. It is obvious from the literature survey that 1) severely restrictive assumptions underlie all purely theoretical approaches, thus the precise results obtained by theoretical methods are solutions to problems that barely resemble the real world situations under consideration; 2) the application of mathematical optimization techniques is restricted due to the combinatorial nature of shipyard production processes which results in computational infeasibility for relatively small scale systems; 3) computer simulations of queueing models offer the greatest potential to the decision maker since they possess the ability to describe the interaction of stochastically determined processes, while resorting only to the use of relatively uncomplicated building block modules. Basic building block modules demonstrating real world characteristics such as throughput transport, buffer storage, and stochastic service times for both single and multi-channel queues are developed. These rather general building blocks are then modified as necessary and combined to describe a "typical" variable throughout multistaged production process. The resulting computer program, its restrictions and potential uses are noted and recommendations for additional research are made.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Ocean Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Novak, S M
• Publication Date: 1971-6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cargo handling equipment; Materials management; Planning; Production; Production control; Shipbuilding; Shipyards; Simulation
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00034676
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 29 1972 12:00AM