Method of buffering critical resources in make-to-order shop floor control in manufacturing complex products

Abstract

Abstract\n The article presents the results of research on creating a dedicated planning system and shop floor control in the conditions of make-to-order in manufacturing complex products. The research was done in Marine Diesel Engines Factory, HCP S.A. Poznan conditions. HCP S.A. Poznan is the biggest producer of high-power marine engines in Europe. The results of the research is working out a method for buffering critical resources shop floor control. These methods of buffering critical resources include procedures of buffers management, (buffers configuration and optimization), a system of disruptions compensation and feedback protecting from destructive influence of ?wandering bottlenecks.? The flow simulations show that this method is more effective than classical drum-buffer-rope production solution, according to TOC, using FIFO rule. Finally, the lead-time and the level of work-in-process were about 20% lower than the solution recommended to TOC. In the last part of the article a place and a method of implementing the solution in a planning system of an enterprise are discussed.