A Study of Optimum Switching Problem for Production Systems Considering Efficiency, Delivery Time and Green Evaluation

This paper aims to derive the optimal switching strategy for production system considering efficiency, delivery time and green evaluation. Nowadays more and more manufacturing and logistics systems not only pursue better work efficiency, but also focus on green energy evaluation issues. Cost reduction and shortening of delivery time are always important management issues in pursuit of efficiency and optimization of the entire production system because of global production competition. In a market situation where customer needs change in various ways, in particular, due to inadequate quality, changes in the local environment, natural disasters and so on. Therefore, prompt planning of management measures such as switching work processes and changing production methods has become an important issue. On the other hand, since the Paris Agreement came into effect, the construction of an environment-friendly production system has been required as an approach to environmental problems such as global warming. In this paper, we propose an optimum switching model of production systems considering efficiency, delivery time and green evaluation using a green evaluation index (GEC: Green Energy Coefficient). We also discuss the optimal switching strategy by numerical observation.

Study on Standardized Work Suitable for Smaller Enterprises

Many smaller manufacturers utilize production systems such as ＂individual production＂ and the ＂production of many models in small quantities.＂ In the processes for the ＂production of many models in small quantities＂ by multi-skilled workers, a manufacturer cannot make good use of the management method with standardized work tables used by large enterprises. Thus, it is necessary to develop ways to f＇md standardized work that is suitable for smaller enterprises. Therefore, we investigated two kinds of factories that utilized flexible manufacturing procedures for the ＂production of many models in small quantities,＂ and considered their work instructions, work contents, changeover methods, workers＇ abilities, etc. One of the compared processes was a case where there was defined standardized work, which was not observed. In the other, a QA （quality assurance） network was created to guarantee the quality. Based on the investigation results, we formulated improvement plans, had the supervisors review them, and clarified the characteristics of their problems. The results revealed areas where much attention was required to find standardized work for such processes. In addition, we made it possible to support the specification of difficult tasks and the renewal of standardized work by extending a standardized work table for the entry of workers＇ actions. This paper reports a method to define and make good use of standardized work tables and standardized work combination tables, i.e., a way to find and use standardized work based on the results of the previously mentioned factory investigation.

Management and Control of Outsourcing in Dispersed Network Manufacturing Systems

The trend of economic globalisation and advances in i nformation technology has led to the emergence of dispersed manufacturing system s as a form of the virtual organisation. New manufacturing strategy pays more at tention to the management of the total value chain and therefore puts emphasis o n outsourcing. In fact, outsourcing is an efficient way of utilizing available r esources and has become one key aspect of the manufacturing strategy. Improved d ecision and organization on outsourcing will result in cost production and short er lead-times. However, most concepts and practice of traditional outsourcing do not adapt to t he changing environment and meet increasing performance requirements. On the oth er hand, virtual organisations might display instability between pure outsourcin g and establishing alliance. Balance and trade-off between independent agents a nd creating alliance are thus required. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop a model to support decision-making, management and control on outsou rcing in a dispersed network manufacturing system and to discuss several key iss ues that are relevant to the relationship between the agents of the network. Dev elopment of the model will deploy Applied System Theory and will be built on fou ndations of earlier research on industrial management such the theories of Outso urcing, Order Entry Points, Design of Organisations and Logistic Control. The is sues that will be addressed in this paper are: · The selection of suppliers and co-makers; · Communication between suppliers and clients; · The mechanisms for profit-sharing between agents; · The product data management to integrate the knowledge of the different agent s into product design. Industrial companies will benefit from this research by the practical methods an d implementation extending their business models beyond concepts for outsourcing and alliances. Additionally, the exploration will lead to proactive contributio n of manufacturing during engineering, which would improve management and contro l of dispersed manufacturing systems.