Integrated decision support system for manufacturing value chain

Abstract

The increasing level of automation in manufacturing calls for a decision support system which simultaneously optimises multiple decisions of a value chain. Current work leverages integrated planning approach for the same and integrates four key functions viz. production, maintenance, quality, and material supply at the parametric level. Such a comprehensive integration of various disjoint functions is not reported in past and thus forms the novelty of current work. Further, a composite performance index called 'overall operations rating (OOR)' is explicated to simultaneously accommodate multiple performance indicators of any manufacturing shop floor. For a specific environment, proposed approach demonstrates a reduction of around 15% in operating cost and improvement of around 12% in OOR as compared to conventional operations planning approaches. Further, the application of the demonstrated approach is extended to a broad range of manufacturing environment which generalises the results.