A simulation study on Assemble-to-Order production for a Taiwan machine tools manufacturer

Yi Chi Wang*, Tin-Chih Chen, Fu Chun Chuang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Machine Tools Assembly has being one of the most important industries in Taiwan for past few decades. Assembling a single modern CNC machine tool may take a few weeks or even months depending on factors such as the complexity of the machine structure, the supply of key components such as spindle, bed, coolant systems, and tool magazine, management of human resources, and the availability for required equipment or tools. The most costly resource for machine tools assembly is the space for assembly. At least an area of 15–20 m2 is necessary for a single machine and essentially the space will be occupied as long as the machine is completed. Besides this spatial problem, Taiwan’s machine tools manufacturers today also face serious unstable supply of the key components offered by outside suppliers. This study focuses on two important decisions faced by every Taiwan machine tools manufacturer: selecting the customers’ orders for assembly launch and determining the priority of the on-going assembly projects for allocating the limited resources like equipment and tools, and human forces. A discrete-event simulation model for a complicated machine tools assembly system considering the spatial problem and the quality issue of key components is developed to evaluate several rule combinations for making these two decisions. Simulation experiments are then properly designed and conducted under various system conditions for detailed investigation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering
PublisherSpringer Heidelberg
Pages273-284
Number of pages12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2013

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering
Volume7
ISSN (Print)2195-4356
ISSN (Electronic)2195-4364

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A simulation study on Assemble-to-Order production for a Taiwan machine tools manufacturer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this