Faculty Publications

Production Planning In A Make-To-Order Repetitive Environment

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Just-in-time, MRP, Repetitive manufacturing

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Production Planning and Control

Volume

5

Issue

6

First Page

575

Last Page

584

Abstract

This paper describes the production planning and control methods used by Del Mar Window Coverings, Inc. to produce several lines of customized window coverings with a 10-day customer response time using a marriage of just-in-time and MRP methods. Repetitive manufacturing is sometimes believed to require a make-to-stock environment in order to provide the production order stability needed to take advantage of the economies of scale. Customized production would present an unstable planning environment where little grouping of production orders would be able to occur, thus run sizes would be relatively irregular and change overs would be un- economically high. Del Mar, Inc. produces four separate lines of window blinds that are entirely made to customer specifications. Production planning uses repetitive methods to schedule and control work across the workcentres in such a manner as to allow a 10-day shipment to retail customers. Del Mar ships about 1100 units per day and maintains a work-in-process turnover of about 80 turns. The production planning methods use a combination of JIT methods within an overall MRP (COPICS) framework. Key problem areas identified by management are also presented. © 1994 Taylor and Francis Ltd.

Department

Department of Management

Original Publication Date

1-1-1994

DOI of published version

10.1080/09537289408919531

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