TY - JOUR

T1 - On the combined effect of due date setting, order release, and output control

T2 - an assessment by simulation

AU - Thurer, Matthias

AU - Stevenson, Mark

AU - Land, Martin J

AU - Fredendall, Lawrence

N1 - This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Production Research on 03/08/2018, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00207543.2018.1504250

PY - 2019/3/19

Y1 - 2019/3/19

N2 - Workload Control is a production control concept for high-variety shops built on the principle of input/output control. The literature, however, has argued that input/output control overemphasises throughput improvements to the detriment of the timing of individual orders and, consequently, that it needs to be supplemented by a preceding customer enquiry stage where due dates are set. Yet, although there are broad separate literature streams on due date setting, order release, and output control, there is a lack of research on the three functions together. In response, this study uses simulation to assess the combined performance effect of all three functions. Results show that each control function can be related to a specific performance objective. The degree of emphasis that should be placed on each function, therefore, depends on a company’s specific performance needs. Due date setting and capacity adjustments (output control) are shown to support each other as they address different performance objectives. Meanwhile, order release (input control) is effective in reducing work-in-process and can play a role in making throughput improvements when capacity adjustments are not possible. Findings enhance existing literature on the diagnosis of delivery reliability performance in high-variety shops, with important implications for research and practice.

AB - Workload Control is a production control concept for high-variety shops built on the principle of input/output control. The literature, however, has argued that input/output control overemphasises throughput improvements to the detriment of the timing of individual orders and, consequently, that it needs to be supplemented by a preceding customer enquiry stage where due dates are set. Yet, although there are broad separate literature streams on due date setting, order release, and output control, there is a lack of research on the three functions together. In response, this study uses simulation to assess the combined performance effect of all three functions. Results show that each control function can be related to a specific performance objective. The degree of emphasis that should be placed on each function, therefore, depends on a company’s specific performance needs. Due date setting and capacity adjustments (output control) are shown to support each other as they address different performance objectives. Meanwhile, order release (input control) is effective in reducing work-in-process and can play a role in making throughput improvements when capacity adjustments are not possible. Findings enhance existing literature on the diagnosis of delivery reliability performance in high-variety shops, with important implications for research and practice.

KW - Workload Control

KW - due date assignment

KW - order release

KW - capacity planning

KW - job shop

U2 - 10.1080/00207543.2018.1504250

DO - 10.1080/00207543.2018.1504250

M3 - Journal article

VL - 57

SP - 1741

EP - 1755

JO - International Journal of Production Research

JF - International Journal of Production Research

SN - 0020-7543

IS - 6

ER -